The ministers of the Qing Dynasty had a special habit when they went to the early dynasty, that is, they would have a piece of ginseng in their mouths, and this piece of ginseng was put in their mouths, not eating, swallowing or spitting, and they waited until the end of the early dynasty, and it was this piece of ginseng that became the treasure of the minister's life.
In ancient times, the court meeting was regarded as an important ritual of state affairsThe Qing Dynasty was divided into many types of courts, including the "Imperial Gate Listening to the Government", the Inner Dynasty, the Chang Dynasty, and the Great Dynasty Meeting. These court meetings were not only places for political decision-making, but also channels for the emperor to understand the dynamics of the country and inspect the livelihood of the people.
Preparing for the court meeting was an important and cumbersome task for the Qing ministers. They need to go through a series of strict procedures before the court to ensure that everything is perfect when they arrive at the court.
In order to attend the court meeting on time, the ministers had to leave before dawn. In the darkness of the early morning, they gradually woke up, ready to begin this daily ritual that they had long Xi to.
For those who live outside the Forbidden City, this is an even more serious challenge。They had to travel through the empty city streets from their distant residences to reach the court. So, why did the ministers choose to take a slice of ginseng instead of breakfast on the way to the court meeting?There are two main reasons for this.
First of all, it can be served as breakfast. The schedules of ministers were always extremely tight before court meetings, and in addition to the regular court hours, the emperor would sometimes summon ministers out of the blue, or there was an urgent matter that needed to be discussed before the official court meeting. This change has tightened the schedules of ministers, often leaving them in a state of tension.
They need to complete a series of tedious preparations in a very short timeto ensure that they behave appropriately in the court.
However, in such a hurry, there was simply no time for breakfast. The courtiers' schedules were strict, making eating breakfast a luxury. Even if there is a moment of leisure,The ministers also understood that eating too much could bring discomfort to the courtAffects their ability to concentrate and think clearly.
This time pressure became the norm for ministers before the meeting. Every sudden summons, every urgent consultation, requires them to respond in a very short time.
This pressure has forced them to give up breakfast, but that doesn't mean they don't value nutrition. Instead, in order to maintain their strength and concentration, they looked for a peculiar substitute – a slice of ginseng in their mouths. This became the secret of their physical strength**.
Second, in order to avoid the embarrassing scene of "three urgency" at the DPRK meeting. At the court meeting, the ministers were shouldering heavy responsibilities and maintaining a solemnity and seriousness. Such an occasion must not tolerate any flaws, let alone such a difficult problem as the "three urgents".
In ancient times, once the emperor began to speak, it was an important time for state affairs. At this time, the ministers must sit and listen quietly, without the slightest movement. Interrupting this scene is undoubtedly a great disrespect to the emperor, and the consequences will be very serious.
According to the laws of the Qing Dynasty,Once the minister leaves the court meeting without permission, especially because of "internal urgency", it is a serious disrespectful act. Such an act was seen as a mockery and disrespect for imperial power, and was not only severely condemned, but could even be punishable by death.
As a result, the ministers had to endure hunger and did not dare to have breakfast before the court. Although this will lead to starvation, it is a sacrifice they have to endure in order to avoid the appearance of the "three urgents".
In the face of national affairs, even in the face of hunger, they must maintain strong determination and physical stability. In order to avoid this embarrassing scene, the ministers chose to take ginseng in their mouths, which became a secret for them to maintain stability in the court meeting**.
Finally, it is possible to concentrate on discussing state affairs. In the court, the status and responsibilities of ministers make it necessary for them to be attentive and sober at all times. The length of the pilgrimage varies, sometimes short, sometimes long. Therefore, there must be a way for ministers to cope with possible exhaustion and hunger.
They found that a slice of ginseng in their mouths brought incredible results. This tiny plant not only boosts alertness and focus, but also provides the energy they need in case they can't eat.
During the court meeting, major national issues were discussed, which required everyone's mind and concentration. This piece of ginseng became their secret**,to enable them to concentrate and avoid the effects of hunger and fatigue on the thinking and expression of ministers.
Therefore, this piece of ginseng seems to have become a treasure for the ministers to maintain their status in the court, allowing them to perform their duties more calmly.
In the Forbidden City in the early morning, this small plant became a must-have medicine for ministers to march to the court. More importantly, this traditional Xi gives ginseng a layer of symbolism, not only for health care, but also for a focused commitment to national affairs.