As early as the Chou dynasty there was the "bull whipping" ceremony. At the Beginning of Spring festival, the emperor would lead the officials to the outskirts of the capital and there "whip" a clay model of awater buffalo, in order to signal the beginning of planting for the coming year.
早在周朝便有春天「鞭牛」的節儀，在立春時節，由天子率百官，在郊外用彩杖鞭打泥塑的牛，以示來年勤於耕作；漢代的石雕則已出現鬥牛圖案。