Because of their importance to agriculture, in many Asian countries the ox or water buffalo symbolizes springtime, harvest and fertility and to city dwellers and government officials, the water buffalo also represents a simple and idyllic life. In China the Spring Ox ((Niu Wang) is honored in the ancient spring ceremony the “Beating of the Spring Ox” in which a life size clay figure is beaten with sticks to usher n spring offerings to protect farmers and beasts from pests and disease. Protective carved images are carved onto ox carts in Burma where the ox is central to agricultural and other activities.
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Extremely rare provincial carving of a Taoist official above the “Spring Ox,” and the Taoist “Herd Boy” who each spring ritually “wakes up the earth” by symbolically beating the Spring Ox with sticks.
Finely carved figures were attached to ox cart yokes to protect farmers from malevolent spirits who inhabited all seen/unseen sectors of their world. . This beautifully carved ox cart yolk image is a chinthe, a mythical Burmese lion/dragon creature commonly decorating many everyday items. A propitious spiritual and protective guardian, the animalsymbolizes power, courage, and strength. This carving displays the common traits of a lions with a long face, large eyes, a long sharp nose, a lion-like beard, and a flame-like shape on the top of his head. Masterfully carved with careful attention to details, see the deeply incised hairs that cover his body. The 2-part piece is held together with a wooden plug. Though for daily use, Burmese craftsmen created beautiful objects and finished them with the best materials they could afford.
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