How to Read “馬を崋山の陽に帰し、牛を桃林の野に放つ”
Uma wo Kazan no you ni kaeshi, ushi wo Tourin no ya ni hanatsu
Meaning of “馬を崋山の陽に帰し、牛を桃林の野に放つ”
This proverb means that when war ends and peace arrives, military horses and cattle are released to peaceful places far from the battlefield to express the determination never to wage war again.
By extension, it is used to express situations where conflicts have been completely resolved and military force or confrontation is no longer necessary. It doesn’t simply mean that war has temporarily stopped, but signifies a deeper state of peace where fundamental peace has been achieved and weapons and military preparations themselves have become unnecessary. In modern times, it is sometimes used to express situations where long-standing conflicts or competition have completely ended and there is no longer any need to fight. The reason for using this proverb is to emphasize the realization of permanent and fundamental peace, not merely a ceasefire or temporary peace. It contains a very powerful message of demonstrating firm commitment to peace through the concrete action of abandoning the tools of conflict.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb originates from a historical account recorded in the “Wucheng Chapter” of the ancient Chinese classic “Book of Documents” (Shujing). It is based on the record that after King Wu of Zhou destroyed the Yin dynasty and unified the realm, he returned the military horses used in war to the south side of Mount Hua and released the military cattle to the fields of Taolin.
Mount Hua is a famous mountain in present-day Shaanxi Province, China, and Taolin is said to be the name of an area along the southern bank of the Yellow River. King Wu took this action to demonstrate to the world that there was no longer any need for war. Military horses and cattle were important military assets in warfare, but by releasing them to peaceful lands far from the battlefield, he expressed his strong will never to wage war again.
This historical account is recorded not only in the “Book of Documents” but also in other classics such as the “Book of Rites” and “Records of the Grand Historian,” and has been passed down in China since ancient times as a symbolic act of peace. It is believed that this proverb was introduced to Japan along with the knowledge of Chinese classics that came with the transmission of Buddhism and Confucianism. From the Warring States period through the Edo period, Chinese classics were valued as part of the education of the samurai class, which is likely how such historical idioms became widely known.
Usage Examples
- The competition with our longtime rival company has ended, and now the time has come to “Horses to Huashan’s south return, cattle to Taolin’s field release”
- The border dispute between the two countries has been completely resolved, and we are truly entering a peaceful era where we can “Horses to Huashan’s south return, cattle to Taolin’s field release”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, this proverb has gained new interpretations. With advancing globalization, it is sometimes quoted in the context of international disarmament and peace-building. In the post-Cold War world and in resolving regional conflicts, attention is being paid to the importance of not just stopping combat but actually reducing military capabilities and converting them to peaceful uses.
In the corporate world, it is sometimes used as an expression for when intense competition ends and an entire industry shifts to a cooperative approach. Particularly in the IT industry, it can be applied to situations where disputes over standard specifications are settled and companies begin cooperating on common platforms.
However, in modern times, situations of complete peace or the end of competition have become extremely rare. Rather, competition has become normalized, and cycles continue where new competition begins even after one conflict ends. Therefore, the “complete peace” that this proverb represents tends to be viewed as idealistic.
In the context of environmental issues, it is also used to express the importance of converting military technology to peaceful uses. There are arguments that position the redirection of military budgets toward environmental protection and social security as “modern versions of returning horses to Mount Hua.” In this way, classical proverbs are providing new perspectives on modern complex issues.
When AI Hears This
In ancient China, the division of roles between horses and cattle was institutionalized with remarkable clarity. The strict separation of horses for military use and cattle for agriculture wasn’t merely a custom—it was a national strategy.
The expression of returning war horses to “the sunny slopes of Mount Hua” reveals that military horses were managed centrally at specific ranches. Mount Hua, a sacred mountain in present-day Shaanxi Province, had south-facing slopes with ideal conditions for horse grazing. This means ancient China strategically centralized the management of horses—the source of military power—at strategic locations, maintaining a system that could mobilize them instantly during emergencies.
Meanwhile, the part about releasing cattle to “the fields of Taolin” shows an equally fascinating structure. Taolin was a fertile plain in Henan Province, and grazing cattle there meant returning labor power to agricultural regions. Cattle were precious sources of power for plowing fields, and during wartime, they were also used for transporting military supplies.
What emerges from this animal specialization is that ancient China had already clearly separated “military sectors” from “agricultural sectors,” establishing resource allocation systems optimized for each. This reveals a surprising rationality in social organization that parallels modern industrial classification. The ability to instantly convert military resources to civilian use during peacetime—this flexibility may have been the secret behind the resilience of ancient Chinese civilization.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is that true resolution is not superficial treatment, but involves fundamental transformation. When problems arise, we tend to settle for temporary symptomatic treatment, but what is truly important is having the courage to cut off the root of the problem.
Even in workplace relationships and family conflicts, rather than simply thinking “I’ll endure it this time,” we need to make efforts to remove the very causes of conflict. This may sometimes mean letting go of our own “weapons” such as stubbornness and competitive spirit.
In modern society, competition and conflict seem to be taken for granted, but sometimes it’s important to pause and ask ourselves “Is this fight really necessary?” In your life, are there any “tools of battle” that are no longer needed? By letting go of old values, stubbornness, and pride, you might be able to build new peaceful relationships.
True strength is not continuing to fight, but being able to make the decision to end the fight.
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