61．牛【牜】部 cattle
归return马horse放release牛ox
It was said that the last Emperor in the Shang Dynasty商朝 led a life of shameless indulgence. His extravagance provoked voices of discontent throughout the empire.
A person named Ji Fa 姬发mobilized the people and the army to rebel and overthrow the Shang Emperor. Soon the whole country was embroiled in war. Because the Emperor had already lost the confidence of the people, his army was quickly overcome. Defeated, the emperor he decided to commit suicide. With his death, the Shang Dynasty and became the first emperor of Zhou周. He announced to his people that the war was ended and the country should restore peace.
In his announcement, he said “We should return the war horses to the south of Hua Mountain华山 and release the war cattle into the Tiaolin桃林 field.” This means that Emperor Ji wanted those horses and cattle recruited for the war to return to agricultural use in their original lands.
归马放牛now is used to describe the situation in which war has ended and peace is being restored.
【拼音】guī mǎ fàng niú
【解释】把作战用的牛马放牧。比喻战争结束，不再用兵。
【出处】《尚书·武成》：“乃偃武修文，归马于华山之阳，放牛于桃林之野，示天下弗服。”
