Nuwa s creation of six animals, the legend of the first year of the year and the changes in the Nort

Mondo Culture Updated on 2024-01-28

Today is the fourth day of the first lunar month, and the Spring Festival carnival continues, but the real New Year is not complete until the end of the Lantern Festival. This half month, from the first day to the fifteenth day of the new year, is the most jubilant and lively time. According to legend, the first lunar month was when Nuwa created all things, and she created a unique creature every day from the first day to the eighth day of the new year.

As early as the time of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, this perception had been formed. The germ of this concept can be traced back to the Han Dynasty, which has long been recorded in Dongfang Shuo's work "Book of Occupation", in which the first day of the first lunar month is a chicken, the second day is a dog, the third day is a pig, the fourth day is a sheep, the fifth day is a cow, the sixth day is a horse, the seventh day is a person, and the eighth day is a grain.

In short, legend has it that Nuwa created chickens, dogs, pigs, sheep, cows, horses, people, and millet during these eight days. She fabricated these creatures, each with its own specific purpose, from telling the time and guarding the yard to plowing the land, rituals, and even millet to provide food for humans.

From the first day to the sixth day of the first month, Nuwa created the six animals domesticated by early human beings, and this concept existed as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty, and these six animals played an irreplaceable role in the lives of the ancestors, so they were given a sacred status.

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, this perception had evolved from simple divination to a system of popular acceptance. The mystical theory was expanded to include a simple divination to a systematic activity such as sacrifices, celebrations, and murders. Every day has its fixed meaning, and this concept spread rapidly, covering the north and south of the country, and becoming an important part of the Central Plains culture.

During this period, social turmoil and people's livelihood pressure intensified, and the Wuhu Chaos led to the era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, where people lived in difficulty, and the secular system could not protect people's legitimate rights and interests. Fighting is frequent, and people are displaced. At the same time, the widespread spread of Buddhism also led to the institutionalization of Taoism.

During this period, Taoism, Yin-Yang and folk magicians quickly merged to form a systematic Taoism. Various doctrines were incorporated into Taoist theories and given new meanings. Perhaps related to Zhang Daoling's Five Dou Mi Sect, as a result of Zhang Lu's surrender to Cao Cao, the Heavenly Master Tao developed rapidly thereafter, making an important contribution to the systematization of Taoism.

After completing the arrangement from the first day to the eighth day of the new year, two more birthdays were added to the folk activities, namely the heavenly prince and the earth prince, corresponding to the ninth and tenth birthdays. Due to the different regions, some places believe that the ninth day of the first month is the birthday of the Jade Emperor, and the tenth day of the first month is the birthday of the stone. These differences also belong to later additions.

Whether it is the Heavenly Emperor or the Jade Emperor, they are the most noble existence in the Taoist system. His birthday is identified as the ninth day of the first month, and the number nine represents supremacy, in line with the status of the emperor. Therefore, it is very reasonable to arrange the ninth day of the first month as the birthday of the Heavenly Lord or the Jade Emperor.

As for the tenth day of the first lunar month, since the other days have already been scheduled, with the heavenly father, it is natural that the earthly prince is also needed. Considering the balance between heaven, earth and man, since there are both man and heaven, the earth must also be arranged, so the tenth day of the first month was arranged to the earth.

In this mystical and solemn tradition, people express their reverence for nature and the gods through sacrifices and celebrations at the beginning of the year. This thousand-year-old system of ideas is steeped in ancient myths and legends, as well as religious fusion in later periods of social upheaval. The six animals created by Nuwa, the arrangement from the first day to the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, and the birthday of the Celestial Princess, all constitute a rich and profound cultural map, adding a strong touch to the magnificent bloom of traditional Chinese culture.

This article profoundly depicts the myths, legends, and folklore activities associated with the first year of the year in traditional Chinese culture, as well as their evolution in the historical context. The legend of Nuwa's creation of the six animals divides the time period from the first day to the tenth day of the new year, and each day is created by a specific creature, presenting a mysterious and imaginative picture. These creations are not only living things, but also human understanding of nature and life, and a unique interpretation of the universe and the origin of life.

The author skillfully connects this traditional concept to history by introducing the social turmoil and people's livelihood pressures during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The era of Wuhu Chaohua gave Buddhism the opportunity to spread widely, and also led to the systematization of the Taoist system. In this historical context, Taoism, Yinyangism, and folk magicians quickly merged to form a systematic Taoism, which laid the foundation for later cultural inheritance.

The arrangement of the six animals and the first to the tenth days of the first lunar month highlights the close relationship between man and nature in ancient cultures. This is not only a myth and legend, but also an expression of the pursuit of human survival and development. The explanation of the function and use of each organism shows the deep understanding of natural resources by ancient humans, and also emphasizes the harmony between man and nature.

The birthdays of the ninth and tenth days of the Lunar New Year further enrich this traditional concept. The interpretation of the Jade Emperor of the First Ninth Month, as well as the arrangement of the position of the Ten Earth Princes of the First Month, all show people's reverence for the universe and the gods. This traditional ritual of sacrifice and celebration is not only a cultural Xi, but also a kind of spiritual sustenance, through the worship of the gods of heaven and earth, people seek stability and happiness in life.

Overall, this article shows the breadth and profundity of traditional Chinese culture through an in-depth analysis of the myth and traditional concept of the first year of the year. From myths and legends to historical evolution, to the blending of social backgrounds, it presents a diverse and rich cultural map in an all-round way. This is not only a tribute to ancient wisdom and beliefs, but also a recognition of the unique contribution of Chinese culture.

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