论伯乐、九方堙为秦穆公“求马”

On Bo Le and Jiu Fangyin “Seeking Horses” for Qin Mugong

伯乐据说"善治马""善驭马",而更多迹象表明,伯乐是早期相马技术经验的总结者。伯乐有晋人秦人或赵人秦人异说。有学者认为,"春秋之末似有两伯乐",一为"赵人","另一伯乐为秦人也"。而《吕氏春秋·观表》说到"古之善相马者","秦之伯乐、九方堙,尤尽其妙矣",是值得重视的信息。《淮南子·道应》有伯乐推荐九方堙为秦穆公"求马"的故事,其中说到"相马"的技术与理念。伯乐举荐九方堙为秦穆公求"良马","三月而反报""得马""沙丘","马至,而果千里之马",或说"马至,果天下之马也"的故事,使人联想到汉武帝时代向西北方向寻求优良马种以充实天子之厩并提升汉王朝骑兵军团战马素质的努力。伯乐、九方堙为秦穆公求"天下之马"事,或许可以看作汉武帝时代"天马"追求的历史先声。

Bo Le is said to be ＂be good at controlling horses＂and ＂be good at driving horses＂,but more evidence show that Bo Le summarizes the early phrase seeking horses technologies. Some scholars believe that＂there were two talent scouts in the end of the Spring and Autumn Period＂,one is a person in the Zhou Dynasty,the other is a person in the Qin Dynasty. But Mister Lv＇s Spring and Autumn Annals said that ＂in the ancient times be good at seeking horses is Bo Le and Jiu Fangyin of the Qin Dynasty＂. It is an important information. Because Huai Nan Tzu informed that Bo Le recommended Jiu Fangyin to ＂seeking horses＂for Qin Mugong and also spoke of the technology and philosophy of ＂seeking horses＂. Finally,it also proved that the selected horses by Qin Mugong were the best horses at that time. This example reminded us that Emperor Wu seek excellent breeds in order to enrich the stables and improve the quality of cavalrymen regiment of the Han Dynasty. It may be regarded as the historical precedent of pursuing ＂best horses＂in the era of Emperor Wu.