“木精为青牛”考释

植物精怪的动物化是一种世界性民俗现象，在中国古代则有“木精为青牛”的说法。究其原因，这一观念的出现大约有三方面的影响因素:一是古代神话中植物神祗动物形貌的遗存；二是秦汉时期有“出土牛迎春”的礼俗，土牛、青牛与春天、树木关联在一起；三是中国古代有源远流长的青牛信仰，在魏晋南北朝时期尤为突出，这是“木精为青牛”说的民俗背景。 

The Research about an Ancient View:the Tree Spirit Is a Green Cow

Peoples in many countries believed that plant spirits looked like animals,which was a worldwide folk belief. In ancient China,there was a same folk belief:the tree spirit was green cow. Why did this folk belief exist? Maybe there were three aspects. Firstly,tree gods in myths looked like animals. Secondly,an important ceremony in Qin,Han Dynasties was using green cows made of clay to greet spring. In this ceremony,the cow was connected with spring and trees. Thirdly,the faith about green cows had a long history in ancient China,especially in Wei,Jin,Northem and Southem Dynasties,so it was very important.