The Historical Evolution and Imagological Analysis of the "Spring Ox Painting" from the Perspective of Lichun Customs

Abstract

This paper examines the "Spring Ox Painting, " the central visual element of the Lichun (Start of Spring) rituals, by tracing its historical narrative development. Using Panovsky's three-tier analytical framework, it deciphers the symbolic system of the ox's imagery and
elucidates its interplay with historical context and folk functions. The painting's historical evolution reflects the integration of official ritual
governance and folk customs; its visual symbols embody both the phenological knowledge and agricultural guidance of agrarian civilization
and the ancient people's aspirations for blessings and temporal concepts. From an iconographic perspective, the painting's principal figures
the Spring Ox and the Grain Godalong with their core motifs, color schemes, and auxiliary elements, carry profound cultural metaphors,
serving as a vital medium for interpreting the spiritual essence of traditional solar term rituals.