Filial piety has been a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation for thousands of yearsIt has always been highly valued by China, and the sacrificial culture of mourning deceased relatives has been admired for thousands of years.
However, as a culture with a long history, sacrificial culture has had a lot of exquisiteness since ancient timesIn particular, you can't bring these four kinds of fruits to the grave, and peaches are definitely not placed on the table.
So what are the four fruits that the ancestors refer to when they say "4 fruits"?Why can't peaches be put on the table?
Peaches have a deep symbolic meaning in Chinese cultureIt is one of the four sacred fruits known as "Furoku Suki".As early as the Neolithic tombs, we find a variety of mahogany wood products used to decorate burial chambers.
And in ancient mythology,Peaches are even more highly prizedAccording to the "Classic of Mountains and Seas", "the Queen Mother has three magical peaches, and you can become an immortal if you eat them."
Peaches are closely connected to the environment surrounded by mountainsThis environment is full of sunshine and fresh air, becoming a symbol of longevity. Therefore, the peach itself contains exuberant vitality and is regarded as a good thing.
However, although the peach is worshipped as a mascot, it is not suitable for display on the offering table, this is because of the existence of the "Law of Life". The "law of life", that is, the various operating mechanisms in the universe, such as the cycle of life and death, the balance of yin and yang, etc., are all an order in nature.
Placing peaches on the offering table is like challenging the natural order and contrary to the harmony of the environment, and the ancients believed that the laws of heaven and earth should be respected and not tried to change. Therefore, the immortal nature of peaches is also inconsistent with the solemn and solemn sacrificial atmosphere.
In the eyes of the ancients, reverence was very important, show respect for both others and ancestors. It is very unwise for those who place peaches on the offering table for personal preference.
In ancient folk beliefs,Mahogany is often used to make amulets, indicating that it has the ability to ward off evil spirits, and the ritual requires a solemn atmosphere. Therefore, if you put peaches to ward off evil spirits, it is also inconsistent with this solemnity. This requires us to be cautious about peaches and not to use them casually.
In Chinese language and culture, the phonetic and semantic characteristics of Chinese characters are compatibleA lot of things are associated with their names. For example, the names of some animals represent some determinants, such as wolf (ruthless), dog (Gou), etc., and the names of some foods will also have some negative effects, such as fish (foolish), meat (cruelty), and so on.
And the name pear is thought to contain a negative message - parting and separation，"off"with"Pears"The pronunciation of these two characters in Chinese is very close, and it can even be said that it is very confusing.
Therefore,People in many places associate them togetherAnd some negative legends about pears have been generated, for example, some people believe that bad luck will happen after eating pears, or it will cause symptoms such as physical discomfort. Especially in rural areas, this concept is even more deeply rooted.
In addition to linguistic factors, in many dialects,"Pears"The word also has a special meaning, which is a metaphor for quarrels and disputes between husband and wifeThis further reinforces the adverse effects of pears.
Again, from a physiological point of view,Pears themselves do not have particularly obvious nutritional value, and the taste is also relatively astringent, which is not very popular with people.
Still, for whatever reason,Today's young people are no longer subject to so many restrictions and constraints, they enjoy the food while not having to worry about the adverse effects of eating pears on their fate. However, in certain historical periods and regions, pears may still be a formidable existence.
"Pears"The reason why it can become a forbidden object in the sacrificial event,Mainly because it represents a concept of parting and separation that arouses vigilance and revulsion.
This also reflects the high level of attention in Chinese culture to family ties and social stability. Although this situation is gradually changing, it is still worth understanding and embracing new ideas while maintaining a sense of reverence for tradition.
Persimmon, this sweet and juicy fruit, which is loved by people, however, in ancient times, it was often considered unlucky for some special reasons. The original reason for this is related to the unique taste of persimmons.
Incompletely ripe persimmons have an astringent tasteIt is often associated with failure or career setbacks. Therefore, placing persimmons in some important sacrificial ceremonies is seen as a sign of bad luck or failure.
In addition, in some languages or dialects,The word "persimmon" is homophonic with "thing".Therefore, people are worried that putting persimmons on the occasion of the sacrifice will cause bad things to happen.
For example, during the important Mid-Autumn Festival, if persimmons are placed on the sacrificial table,It is seen as a sign of loss or bad experience for the family. This perception has been passed down from generation to generation.
And in the Buddhist cultural circle,The superstition of not eating persimmons is related to the properties of persimmonsPersimmon is considered to be a "cold" fruit that absorbs the "yang energy" in the human body.
And yang energy is in Buddhist culture,It is seen as representing positive emotions such as purity, brightness, and joy. Therefore, when worshipping the Buddha, persimmons are rarely used.
In today's society,These traditional beliefs have been gradually diluted. We began to look at persimmons as a delicious fruit more rationally. At the same time, interpreting these historical legends also gives us insight into some superstitious elements hidden in the ancients.
And about the persimmon fruit, there are some other interesting legendsFor example, in Shanxi, the main producing area of persimmons, there is a folk tale that has been popular for a long time.
Legend has it that when Yang Jian, a descendant of the Sun Heroes, attacked Xindu CityThe defenders and people of the city ate a large number of persimmon fruits。As a result, the surrounding fields and hills were dyed red, and Yang Jian mistakenly thought that the city was on fire, so he retreated. Since then, persimmons have become a symbol of the fruit to ward off evil spirits and avoid disasters.
In addition, in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas, the Classic of the West of the Sea", there is also a legend of persimmons. Legend has it that during Dayu's flood control, in order to block the surging torrent of Weishui, he sacrificed his two children.
Later, persimmon trees with strange shapes grew in this placeSo the fruit was named after the "lost persimmon".。Although it is only a legend, it also reflects the psychology of the ancients to stenuing and interpreting natural phenomena through fruits.
Bananas, an exotic fruit from the tropicsIn many parts of China, rituals are consciously excluded from the category of fruit that can be enshrined.
Bananas vary depending on where they are grownIt is considered by some rural groups to be "authentic" enough, which does not conform to the sacrificial norms that attach importance to locality. In contrast to the evergreen fruit, the banana's foreign attributes give a visual impression of "immodesty".
In some areas,People are more inclined to choose local fruits such as plums, apples, and pears for worship. In addition, the growth posture of the banana hanging and falling is not commensurate with the solemn and solemn sacrificial atmosphere.
The drooping state of the banana tree fruit visually gives people an association of "irreverence".In the rigorous sacrificial rituals, any disrespect for the deceased is taboo.
In Taiwan and other regions,The pronunciation of the word "banana" is similar to the meaning of "peace".This foreshadows the fate of those involved in the sacrifice in folk beliefs, which is not in line with the original intention of expressing respect. This approximate linguistic association in Taiwanese is also incompatible with the solemn and solemn sacrificial atmosphere.
Therefore,Bananas, an exotic "heterogeneous" fruit, rarely appear on the offering tableThe cultural symbolic significance it contains is incompatible with serious sacrificial rituals. This conscious "rejection" has also become a symbol of bananas, allowing people to enjoy their sweetness while also contemplating the historical and spiritual connotations contained in different cultural symbols.
With the development of contemporary society, this traditional concept is gradually weakeningMore and more young people are beginning to question this tabooThink it limits personal choice.
They want to be able to break the boundaries of traditionHold the festival as you wish。Therefore, whether bananas and other exotic fruits can be placed on the altar in the future may have a significance beyond the food itself, but a transformation of a cultural atmosphere and values.
According to archaeological and anthropological research, the original form of sacrifice originated from the worship and reverence of primitive humans for nature and ancestors. The ancients believed that they could be blessed by the gods and ancestors through sacrifices, so a variety of sacrifices were produced.
During the Shang Dynasty, merchants already had a large and complex sacrificial system. They revere ghosts and gods, believing that they have great power and can decide the fate of people, so they hold rituals day after day and pray for the blessings of the gods.
They regularly hold ceremonies according to the scheduleOffering sacrifices reverentlyThey divided the ghosts and gods into three categories: the gods, the earthly gods, and the human ghosts, and took the human ghosts, that is, their ancestors, as the main objects of sacrifice.
They believe that although their ancestors have died in the body, their souls still exist and can bless or bring misfortune to future generations. This concept of ancestor worship has continued to this day and has become a major feature of Chinese culture.
Qingming, Zhongyuan and other festivals are traditional festivals for folk sacrifices to ghosts and ancestorsOn these festivals, people dress up and go to ancestral tombs and family ancestral halls to burn incense and offer flowersPerform three bows and nine bows to express remembrance and remembrance of the ancestors.
Many of the norms in the sacrificial ceremony, such as the arrangement of incense tables, the preparation of sacrifices, and the order of rituals, all follow the ancient rites one by one and are passed down from generation to generation. In the long history, the connotation of sacrificial rituals has been continuously enriched, and the functions have been increasingly extended. Nowadays, it not only worships the gods of heaven and earth, the heroic martyrs of the ancestors, but also remembers the loyal ministers and virtuous people, and even extends to local outstanding people.
Many celebrities, sages, martyrs and loyal ministers have built special shrines, and regular sacrificial activities are held to show remembranceIt can be said that sacrifice has been integrated into the blood of the Chinese nation and has become a cultural gene, passed down from generation to generation. It reflects the beautiful qualities of the Chinese people who respect heaven and law, respect virtue and goodness, and also reflect the wisdom of living in harmony with nature and society.
In today's society,Traditional sacrificial customs have also been gradually restored and carried forwardAfter the reform and opening up, with the improvement of living standards, people's attention to traditional culture is also growing. With the support and encouragement of **, many sacrificial activities that were originally abolished or suspended were re-held, and the scale was also expanding day by day.
Restoration of ancestral tombs and ancestral halls is also being carried out in an orderly manner to preserve this cultural heritage. It is foreseeable that in the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation today, this long-standing traditional culture will certainly be carried forward and become an important part of the building of the nation's spiritual civilization.
Traditional Xi are witnesses of history and cultureBut they also evolve with the times. While we preserve our traditions, we should also give them the space to adapt to their new lives.
Well, this seemingly mysterious "four fruits" taboo,Does it also contain cultural connotations that we have not yet fully explored?How will it evolve in the new era?These questions are worth exploring and thinking about.