“Alas! it’s hard to keep
The cow I caught. 
She tries to run and leap
And snap the cord.”

The fifth picture, called ‘the Taming of the Cow,’ represents the cowherd pacifying the cow, giving her grass and water.

“I’m glad the cow so wild
Is tamed and mild. 
She follows me, as if
She were my shadow.”

The sixth picture, called ‘the Going Home Riding on the Cow,’ represents the cowherd playing on a flute, riding on the cow.

“Slowly the clouds return
To their own hill,
Floating along the skies
So calm and still.

The seventh picture, called ’the Forgetting of the Cow and the Remembering of the Man,’ represents the cowherd looking at the beautiful scenery surrounding his cottage.

“The cow goes out by day
And comes by night. 
I care for her in no way,
But all is right.”

The eighth picture, called ’the Forgetting of the Cow and of the Man,’ represents a large empty circle.

“There’s no cowherd nor cow
Within the pen;
No moon of truth nor clouds
Of doubt in men.”

The ninth picture, called ‘the Returning to the Root and Source,’ represents a beautiful landscape full of lovely trees in full blossom.

“There is no dyer of hills,
Yet they are green;
So flowers smile, and titter rills
At their own wills.”

The tenth picture, called ‘the Going into the City with Open Hands,’ represents a smiling monk, gourd in hand, talking with a man who looks like a pedlar.

“The cares for body make
That body pine;
Let go of cares and thoughts,
O child of mine!”

These Ten Pictures of the Cowherd correspond in meaning to the Five Ranks of Merit above stated, even if there is a slight difference, as is shown in the following table: 

THE FIVE RANKS.—–­THE TEN PICTURES.

1.  The Rank of Turning—–­1.  The Searching of the Cow.
                         2.  The Finding of the Cow’s Tracks.

2.  The Rank of Service—–­3.  The Finding of the Cow.
                         4.  The Catching of the Cow.

3.  The Rank of Merit—–­5.  The Taming of the Cow.
                       6.  The Going Home, Riding on the Cow.

4.  The Rank of Co-operative Merit—–­9.  The Returning to the Root and
Source.
                                    10.  The Going into the City with
Open Hands.

5.  The Rank of Merit-over-Merit—–­7.  The Forgetting of the Cow and the Remembering of the Man.
8.  The Forgetting of the Cow and of
the Man.

14.  Zen and Nirvana.