现代汉语将“执牛耳”解释为在某一方面居领导地位的人,而在古汉语中却不过是个主持人。“执牛耳”最早出现在《左传·哀公十七年》中:“诸侯盟,谁执牛耳?”春秋时代,诸侯国之间订立盟约要举行一项隆重的仪式:先在地上挖一土坑,将牛(称之为牲)置于其中,割下牛左耳,以盘盛之,再取牛血以容器盛之。此即所谓执牛耳。执牛耳是否由大国盟主担当呢?非也。《左传·哀公十七年》记载:鲁哀公与齐平公在蒙 Modern Chinese interprets “executive cow ” as one who holds the leading position in one aspect, but is only a moderator in Old Chinese. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the vassal countries signed a treaty to hold a solemn ceremony: digging a dig in the ground first, Earth pit, the cattle (called sacrificial) placed in them, cut off the left ear of cattle to Sheng Pan, and then take the blood of cattle to Sheng container. This is the so-called Executive ear. Arbitrage executive leader by the main country or not? “Zuo Ai sad seventeen years” records: Liao Gong and Qi Pinggong in Mongolia