如果要从深圳市内大大小小的雕塑中，挑一座作为“特区精神”的形象表达，大部分人的脑海中都会立刻浮现出孺子牛雕塑低头奋进的模样。
If people were asked to select one of the statues in Shenzhen to signify the spirit of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the willing ox statue would be most people’s choice.
这座雕塑位于福田区华强北街道深南中路1018号深圳市委大院入口处，重4吨，高2米，长5.6米，由牛雕、老树根两部分组成，主体为铜材质，底座为花岗岩石。“孺子牛”勾头朝前，四脚蹬地，全身的肌肉线条让整个造型极富感染力，给见过它的人们留下了深刻印象。
This statue is located at the entrance of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee compound, 1018 Shennan Road Central, Huaqiangbei Subdistrict, Futian District. Weighing four tons and standing two meters high and 5.6 meters long, the statue consists of two parts, with the main body made of copper material and the base made of granite rock. Its gestures are infectious and impressive.
孺子牛雕塑创作定稿小样（现藏于深圳市档案馆）
The final prototype of the willing ox statue (now in the Shenzhen Archives).
与基础设施建设一样，城市雕塑是城市文化的重要组成部分，也是百年大计，体现了一座城市的精神传承。那么，这座凝聚着特区精神的标志性雕塑，是怎么确定下“孺子牛”这个形象的呢？
Along with infrastructure construction, urban sculpture is an important part of a city’s culture, reflecting its spiritual heritage. Why did the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone choose the image of a willing ox as its spiritual symbol?
在深圳经济特区刚刚建立时，深圳市委市政府计划在市委大院内建一座城市雕塑，用来体现特区精神，鼓舞广大干部群众。我国著名雕塑家潘鹤受深圳市委市政府邀请参与了创作。
When the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was first established, the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and the Shenzhen government planned to build a statue in the compound of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee to embody the spirit of the SEZ and inspire the people. Pan He, a famous sculptor in China, was invited to participate in the creation.
在前期规划中，众人群策群议，雕塑题材几经讨论，仍未能确定。有一天，潘鹤在住所外看见拖拉机、推土机、汽车来来往往，心中灵感油然而生。他思考，在改革开放的背景下，特区建设从无到有，是一代代人奋斗的结果，选用“开荒牛”，再合适不过。这个想法得到了深圳市领导的一致认同，开荒牛的形象就这样确定下来了。
Pan recalled seeing tractors, bulldozers and trucks outside his residence and the inspiration came to his mind. He thought, in the context of reform and opening up, the construction of Shenzhen is the result of the struggle of generations of people and the choice of a pioneering ox was the most appropriate symbol. This idea was unanimously approved by the leaders of Shenzhen.
后来，潘鹤外出办事时，被两块老树根启发，设想将树根摆在开荒牛后面，表示特区干部要铲掉旧根，把小农意识、封建意识、保守思想和官僚作风连根拔起，开荒牛的整体立意就此确定。铜雕完成后，潘鹤在铜雕基座刻下了“孺子牛”三个字，这是取鲁迅先生“俯首甘为孺子牛”之意，意味着既要开荒拓新，也要勤恳务实。
Later, Pan was inspired by two old tree roots and he planned to place them behind the ox, indicating that the small peasant ideology, feudal ideology, conservative thinking, and bureaucratic style should be eradicated, which is the overall intention of the statue. After the statue was completed, Pan engraved the three words “孺子牛” on the base of the statue, which were taken from the famous verse of writer Lu Xun: Head-bowed, like a willing ox I serve the children, expressing a resolution to not only blaze new trails but also be diligent and pragmatic.
1984年7月27日，孺子牛雕塑落成，落成之后，参观者络绎不绝。为方便广大干部群众参观，1999年2月6日，雕塑被迁移到深圳市委大院门前。
On July 27, 1984, the statue was unveiled. On February 6, 1999, the statue was moved to the compound of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee.
2010年11月、2022年7月，孺子牛雕塑分别被深圳市人民政府、广东省人民政府公布为第五批市级文物保护单位及第十批省级文物保护单位。孺子牛雕塑是深圳文化的重要体现，为市民传递着这座城市开拓、创新、奉献、前进的精神和品格。
In November 2010 and July 2022, the statue was listed by Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and Guangdong Provincial People’s Government in the fifth batch of municipal cultural relics protection units and in the 10th batch of provincial cultural relics protection units respectively. The statue stands as an important symbol of Shenzhen’s culture, conveying to the public the spirit and character of the city, which is pioneering, innovative, dedicated and progressive.
今日互动：作为凝聚着特区精神的标志性雕塑，孺子牛雕塑已经深入人心。您见过孺子牛雕塑吗？在您心里，孺子牛精神是怎么样的呢？欢迎您踊跃留言，小i将在留言中选取幸运儿送出小礼物。
Today's topic: Have you ever seen the willing ox statue? Do you know what spirit does it symbolize? Feel free to leave your comments and three lucky people will receive gifts.
来源：深圳市档案馆、i深圳
Source: Shenzhen Archives, iShenzhen
编译：深圳政府在线、Shenzhen Daily、GDToday
Transedited by: Shenzhen Government Online, Shenzhen Daily, GDToday
