神牛预测
（吉攸注：这是一篇摘自网上的英文文章，其英文名称为,Sacred
Oxen Predict Peace and Drought,即神牛预测和平及干旱，下面是其原文。20050725上传。）
Sacred oxen predict peace and drought
2003年05月20日 01:10
CAMBODIA’S sacred oxen have predicted a dry but peaceful year ahead, eating a healthy diet of beans and rice at the kingdom’s ancient royal plowing ceremony, but turning their noses up at a bowl of water.
Offered a range of dishes, the oxen steered clear of alcohol — which signifies fighting and turmoil — suggesting the run- up to general elections in July would not see the violence that has plagued other polls in the war-scarred Southeast Asian nation.
“The royal oxen ate 30 percent of the rice, 96 percent of the beans and 36 percent of the corn. The prediction is that we will have a good crop for this year,” Royal Astrologer Kong Ken told a crowd of several thousand in the heart of the capital Monday.
“But we also pray for regular rain so it can feed the crops.”
The plowing ceremony, its roots lost in history, marks the beginning of the rice planting season and means a great deal to the impoverished nation of around 13 million people, most of whom are dependent on farming.
The six royal oxen, their horns clothed in scarlet and gold, plow a furrow three times round a sandy square in front of the capital’s National Museum — usually used as a football pitch for school children.
They are then set loose to choose from seven bowls containing water, alcohol, grass, sesame, corn, beans and rice.
Although widely revered, the royal oxen have been known to get it wrong.
Last year they finished an entire bowl of rice to raise hopes for a bountiful harvest. However, the late arrival of wet season rains hit overall output.
(SD-Agencies)
神牛的预测（唐吉攸翻译）
柬埔寨的神牛预测了来年是平静的一年，这是根据其在柬埔寨王国的举行的一个祭典仪式上所吃的食物而得到的兆示。在这个占卜仪式上，神牛先是吃了一些大豆和大米，然后扭转它的鼻子向着一碗水。
面对着一系列的美餐，神牛避开了酒——通常象往着战争及骚乱——兆示着七月份的国家大选中不会见到暴力，而这些暴力一直困绕着这个被纷乱践踏着的南亚国家。
“这些皇家神牛吃了供奉的30%的米饭，96%的大豆以及36%的玉米。这预示着来年是个丰收年。”皇家占卜师Kong
Ken 向位于都市中心的数千名众这样宣布。
“但是我们同时必须祈祷上天赐雨，这样方能滋润我们的农作物。”
这个耕作祭典（plowing
ceremony），来源于已经失传的历史，标志着一年来农作物种植的开始，这对于一个依靠农业的1300万贫穷的人民来说具有很深的意义。
这个祭典仪式，共有六头神牛，在它们的角上绑着猩红色与黄金色相间的带子，在都市国家博物馆前面的沙地广场上犁出一条沟，且在沟上重复犁了三遍。通常这个沙地广场是作为小学生的足球场地。
随后这群神牛放任其食用这些食物：七个碗中装有水，酒，草，芝麻，玉米，大豆，大米。
虽然这些神牛广泛受到民众的尊敬，但它的预测还是被证明出错了。
去年它们吃完了整个一碗的米饭，兆示一个丰收年，但是事实却证明是一个雨量过多的年份。
（吉攸点评：祭典仪式是一种文化，传统的文化现象，其占测的准确度肯定不高。在中国国内亦有很多类似的神鸡或神鸟啄牌算命，当成一种娱乐则可。真正要预测，还得靠人——人为万物之灵嘛！）
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