King Zhou, the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty, was a tyrant who tortured his people, imprisoned the noble Ji Chang, and sheltered criminals from across the land. King Wu of Zhou allied with western tribes and marched east to overthrow him. At the Battle of Muye, though Zhou's army was as dense as a forest, his cruelty had shattered morale. No sooner had the two forces clashed than Zhou's own vanguard turned their weapons against him, aiding King Wu. Zhou's army, now unstoppable, pursued the fleeing enemy, spilling blood until it floated pestles, and wiped out the tyrant's regime in one decisive blow.
After King Wu of Zhou abolished King Zhou's tyrannical policies, peace and stability were restored throughout the realm, and the virtuous governance of the Shang dynasty was revived. He freed those imprisoned by King Zhou, posthumously honored those he had killed, distributed the wealth and grain he had hoarded, rewarded the meritorious, and granted noble titles. The people of the world rejoiced without exception.
After King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty, he moved the capital from Shang's city to the old Zhou capital of Feng (west of present-day Hu County, Shaanxi). He set aside military affairs and promoted culture and education. He released the warhorses to the south of Mount Hua and the oxen to the fields of Taolin, signaling that they would no longer be used for battle. Chariots and armor were stored in the armory, shields and spears were hung upside down, and weapons were wrapped in tiger skins—all to show the world that war was over. King Wu formally ascended the throne as the ruler of all under heaven. The feudal lords and officials came to court to receive the new king's commands. He taught the people the five relationships: between ruler and minister, father and son, husband and wife, brothers, and elders and youth. He provided ample food for the living, held funerals for the dead, and performed sacrifices to honor the ancestors. His governance was pure and upright, establishing trust, exalting virtue, and rewarding the meritorious. Thus, the world was at peace and harmony. King Wu ruled without toil or war, simply sitting with folded hands as the realm governed itself.
Later, the idiom "Resting Oxen and Releasing Horses" came to describe a time of peace when weapons are no longer needed.
Source: *Book of Documents*, Chapter "Wu Cheng"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "休牛放马" came to describe a time of peace when weapons are no longer needed.