IX: Utilization of Japanese Native Horses – New Year’s Greetings

Happy New Year.

Last year was one of turbulence and upheaval.
For the coming year, I look forward to a Wuling Peach Blossom Spring—a place of peace and hope.

I sincerely wish you all good health and well-being.

New Year’s Day, Reiwa 3 (2021)

Agriculture and Transport

Spring

Beginning with the Peach Blossom Festival (Jōshi no Sekku), followed by puddling the fields and rice planting.

Autumn

Beginning with the rice harvest, leading to the gathering of crops.

Kano Tsunenobu (1636–1713), attributed

Folding Screen of Spring and Autumn Agricultural Scenes (detail)
Collection of the Horse Museum

Horses and cattle share a common ancestor and are hoofed animals that began to evolve separately approximately 6,000 years ago.

Horses are odd-toed ungulates, bearing their body weight on a single third digit (the middle finger).

Cattle bear their weight on two digits, the third and fourth (the middle and ring fingers).

Both horses and cattle have walked alongside humankind throughout a long history and remain invaluable companions to us.

January 1, 2021

Sumio Suzuki

Comments