As the Year of the Horse approaches, Prof Cai Zongqi, Director of the Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies and Lee Wing Tat Chair Professor of Chinese Literature of Lingnan University, and Mr Jerry Wang Junzhe, Research Officer of the Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies, offer a detailed interpretation of the Horse zodiac sign from the cultural perspectives of customs, classical texts, history, management, and literature, and link this explanation to contemporary Chinese New Year greetings.
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Of the 12 zodiac animals, the Horse stands out for its close connection to human life since antiquity. Unlike mythical creatures such as the dragon or phoenix, the Horse is a real animal and has partnered human beings in warfare, agriculture, long-distance travel, entertainment, and sport. In the Chinese tradition, the Horse symbolises speed and success, and idioms such as “to spur the horse to full speed” (kuàimă jiābiān 快馬加鞭) and “urging the horse forward with the whip” (cèmă yángbiān 策馬揚鞭) reflect the pursuit of progress, timely action, smooth development, and ambition.
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Prof Cai Zongqi, Director of the Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies and and Lee Wing Tat Chair Professor of Chinese Literature of Lingnan University.
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In the past, the Horse was an essential public resource and symbolised order, rhythm, and direction. The Rites of Zhou (Zhouli 《周禮》) records that the Zhou Dynasty established a comprehensive system for the “Four Seasonal Horse Rites” (四季祭馬), with strict regulations for breeding, training and assigning duties: in spring, the horse ancestors were honoured and young horses trained; in summer, experience from herdsmen was shared, and horses chosen for training; in autumn, with the harvest, offerings were made to the land deity, and suitable horses selected; in winter, the gods protecting the horses' health were worshipped, horses were presented to the Zhou king, and charioteers were trained.
Prof Cai Zongqi, Director of the Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies and and Lee Wing Tat Chair Professor of Chinese Literature of Lingnan University.
Prof Cai Zongqi explains “Through these horse rituals and training, the ancients conveyed respect for life and an emphasis on social order. This cultural tradition continues to shape contemporary understanding of the Horse zodiac, expressing respect for life, the maintenance of social order, and wishes for a smooth and auspicious year ahead."
The professor also says that the Horse is a metaphor for moderation and balance. Ancient teachings on “controlling the horse” stress the importance of the right tension on the reins: if the reins are too loose, the horse may become unmanageable; if pulled too tightly, it falters. The Warring States bamboo text Yushu (《馭術》) not only details the techniques of horse handling but also introduces the idea of “slow and steady process” (xútú huănjìn 徐圖緩進)—a principle of measured progress. This concept may also be applied to understanding the relationship between people and systems: in both managing a team and running a city, lasting balance cannot be achieved by prioritising speed while ignoring capacity and sustainability.
This philosophy of management is also reflected in the Warring States period idiom “buying horse bones with a thousand pieces of gold” (千金買馬骨) recorded in Strategies of the Warring States (Zhanguo Ce – Yan Ce 《戰國策·燕策》). When King Zhao of Yan sought to attract talent, his advisor Guo Wei told the story of a ruler who offered a thousand pieces of gold for a fine horse. After three wasted years, a courtier bought the bones of a dead thousand-li horse for five hundred pieces of gold. Though the ruler was angry at first, the courtier explained “If dead horse bones are worth five hundred, a living horse must be worth far more. Once the world knows Your Majesty truly values horses, the finest steeds will come of their own accord.” Sure enough, within a year three exceptional horses had been found.
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Prof Cai adds “The story stresses the spirit of sincere appreciation for talent, and in the context of Hong Kong's current efforts to attract talent, it remains highly relevant: by demonstrating genuine commitment through both intentions and action, Hong Kong is attracting and retaining the most talented elite, injecting vitality into its long-term prosperity."
Beyond its history and intelligence, the Horse in literature mirrors the many facets of human life. Don Quixote rides forth on his steed, symbolising breakthrough, persistence, and the quest for ideals; Cao Cao's line “the old horse in the stable still aspires to travel a thousand miles” (老馬伏櫪,志在千里), expresses enduring ambition despite the passage of time. But although the Horse can gallop swiftly it may also tire—reflecting different phases of life and reminding people that sometimes life requires a sprint, while at others it needs rest and to adapt mentally.
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During Chinese New Year, greetings, as well as the familiar “Wishing you swift success, like a galloping horse” (mă dào chéng gōng 馬到成功), may also wish “May you rise steadily and swiftly in your career” (mă bù qīng yún 馬步青雲) or “take the lead at the forefront" (yī mă dāng xiān 一馬當先). Drawing on these idioms, Prof Cai Zongqi extends his own New Year blessing: May everyone remain humble and unhurried while advancing steadily in their careers; may the young take the lead, while the elderly convey their seasoned wisdom; may all find their direction, proceed steadily, and achieve lasting success. As the poem says: “Riding high in the spring breeze, I gallop swiftly, taking in all the flowers of Chang'an in one day!” (春風得意馬蹄疾,一日看盡長安花!).
