In an agricultural society, the oxen used for tillage are a highly prized and revered means of production. They are often kept until they die of old age even after they've lost their ability to work the fields. They are seldom butchered for meat. This painting of five oxen from the brush of Han Huang, chief minister of state, is pregnant with the artist's humane spirit. The five oxen in varied postures and colors are vividly portrayed with thick, heavy and earthy brushstrokes, making the painting one of the best with animals as subject in China's art history.