Genre Painting-Plowing the field with the ox
By Don Southerton, Songdo IBD CityTalk Editor and Chief Blogger
2009 is the Year of the Ox according to the Chinese zodiac. Koreans, too, follow the lunar calendar, but have rich, unique traditions regarding many of the 12 zodiac animals. A goal of this Blog is when appropriate to share some insights into Korean tradition and history.
For example, in Korea the ox was the symbol of the three main virtues – honesty, sincerity, and self-sacrifice. It works slowly, but steadily, and is always patient. Building a city like Songdo IBD is a slow, but steady process, too.
It is commonly thought that those born in the Year of the Ox are hard-working and loyal. They may be slow at times but they can be focused and determined once they put their mind to something. Such single-mindedness has lead to the expression “stubborn as an ox.” Moreover, there is a Korean idiom “reading the scriptures to an ox.” which refers to the pointlessness of trying to persuade someone who will not listen.
For more info and additional Genre artwork on Korea’s ox traditions, see LINK.
Your post 2009: Year of the Ox « Songdo IBD CityTalk was very interesting when I found it over google on Sunday by my search for lunar calendar. I have your blog now in my bookmarks and I visit your blog again, soon. Take care.