Have you ever thought about a question?
Why do you have to say "go to the toilet" when you go to the toilet?And to go to the kitchen is to "go down to the kitchen"?
What is the meaning of "up" and "down"?
In fact, this is very closely related to the wisdom of the ancients.
In ancient Chinese society, feng shui culture prevailed, and people's daily habits were deeply affectedAmong them, the customs of going to the toilet and going to the kitchen are full of the charm of Feng Shui philosophy.
For example, the common sitting in the north and facing south is not only for lighting, but also related to feng shui's emphasis on the cold in the north and the heat in the south.
In ancient times, houses were usually built in a north-facing direction, which actually stemmed from people's consideration of factors such as sunlight and wind direction.
I have to say that this kind of natural, practical layout,It really fully embodies the concept of the ancients' wisdom in using philosophical principles to guide life.
They will not be arrogant because of the lack of technology, but give full play to their ingenuity and apply the laws they have mastered to all aspects of architecture and life, which is very worthy of learning from modern people.
Not only that, when the ancients built houses, they would also refer to the Five Elements Bagua Theory.
The kitchen is located in the south, because the fire is hot, and the fire generally goes up, and the kitchen located in the "lower and south" can avoid the safety hazards caused by excessive fire, while the toilet is just the opposite.
What's more, the pace of life of ancient people was relatively slow, and the family structure was relatively simpleThe family lives together in the same house.
In order to keep the home environment clean and comfortable, the ancients had strict regulations on the use of toilets and kitchens.
For example, in order to prevent the smell of the toilet from affecting the cooking environment of the kitchen, the ancients would set the toilet away from the kitchenAt the same time, in order to facilitate the owner's toileting, the toilet is usually set up closer to the bedroom.
Going to the kitchen, on the other hand, means going to the kitchen "under the fire" to prepare food, which is also a kind of good expectation of life in the ancients.
It has to be said that the ancient custom of going to the toilet and going down to the kitchen contains a wealth of feng shui philosophical ideasIt is the ancients' unique understanding of the laws of the operation of all things in the universe, and it is also their pursuit of a better life.
In fact, there is also a theory that this ancient concept of hierarchy is inextricably linked.
In ancient society, there was a strict hierarchy, and the lives of the upper nobles and the lower classes of commoners were very different, and there was a huge gap in all aspects of clothing, food, housing, and transportation.
The aristocratic class lived in luxury, they were richly dressed, wearing silk brocade robes, wearing jade crowns, living in magnificent palaces, and the tables were full of delicacies from the mountains and seasThere are roast venison, roast whole sheep, and all kinds of rare birds and animals.
They have a full-time chef who cooks the dishes without having to do it yourself.
Chefs source ingredients from far and wide to create a delicious meal that is both colourful and fragrant.
And civilians not only have to work hard for a living, but also cook for a livingThis phenomenon was known at the time as the "lower kitchen".
It can be said that the origin of the word "lower kitchen" is mainly because in ancient society, cooking was a relatively low profession.
Those at the bottom of society, who not only have to bear heavy manual labor, but also endure social discrimination and exclusionSo, when they cook at home, people call them "lower kitchens".
However, for those aristocrats who lived in the upper echelons of society, they never set foot in the kitchen, and all their dietary needs were met by the chef in the house.
For them, going to the kitchen is a very low thing to do, something they must not do.
And the word "toilet" appeared mainly to meet the needs of ordinary people who live at the bottom of society.
In ancient societies, those who lived at the bottom of the social ladder often did not have enough money to build toilets, so they had to find suitable places outdoors to meet their physiological needsAt the time, this practice was seen as a very ** behavior, something that people did not want to do.
However, for the aristocracy who lived in the upper echelons of society, they had clean latrines with incense burners and beautifully carved walls.
Historically, toilets like the Empress Dowager Cixi used were even more extravagantMade with **, toilet paper needs to be sprayed with saliva to get wet.
Gradually, the concept of hierarchy in these words became deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and became an idiom, reflecting the cruel reality of the strict hierarchy of ancient society.
At that time, men would not take the initiative to cook, otherwise it would be considered a lower status, and women were also asked to stay away from the kitchen.
It can be said that the appearance of the words "going to the toilet" and "going to the kitchen" fully reflects the deep understanding and strict observance of social hierarchy by people in ancient societies.
The appearance of these two words not only reveals the way of life and the state of existence of people in ancient societyIt also shows us a vivid social picture.
Language is a testimony of history, carrying the collective memory of generations after generations.
Many words and idioms in Chinese actually contain a long history and people's living habits.
For example, phrases such as "up the mountain and down to the sea" are derived from the description of life scenes by the ancients.
In ancient times, people often went to the mountains to hunt and fish by the river, and these activities were located at a higher level, so they were called "going up the mountain", and fishing at the sea was called "going to the sea".
This statement has been passed down to this day and has become a conventional expression.
For example, in the Chaoshan area, there is a term called "Dabu", which refers to men who can go out to sea to fish and fish.
The origin of the word can be traced back to the ancient self-sufficient lifestyle.
In addition to farming, men also go to the mountains to hunt to supplement their families' foodIn areas bordering the sea, fishing is gradually replacing hunting.
In ancient times, the wharf was also called "port", so fishermen and boatmen were called "port", which has become a saying that has been passed down from generation to generation.
The name of women "Zi Niang", which originated from the work of women preparing three meals at home, was also called "cooking grain" in ancient timesThis evolved into the general name of "Ziniang".
Not only that, in many areas of southern China, people have also formed their own unique language habits, such as in Jiangxi and Hunan, people often say "drink morning tea" and "eat supper".This comes from the diet and rest of people in ancient times.
Drinking tea in the morning and eating at night has become a habit for ordinary people.
In local languages, we can also find some ancient idioms and proverbs, most of which are based on the perception of the life of the ancients, such as "reaching out and not hitting the smiling person" to advocate friendliness, "the mountains will fall, and the water will flow" to talk about the normalcy of environmental changes.
These sentences are firmly rooted in the folk and have become a nourishment for people's conversations.
In fact, this phenomenon is not only found in dialects or local languages, but also in Mandarin, which has many idioms derived from ancient life.
For example, words such as "idler" and "two hundred and five" may have been just personal jokes or derogatory meaningsBut it was spread and gradually became well-known and accepted by the public.
You must know that language is alive, and it is constantly enriching and evolving with the passage of history, and many of the habits of today's people speaking are portrayals of the life of the ancients.
What's more, language and life are closely related.
When lifestyles change, certain words in the language are eliminated or new ideas are createdMany of the words we use today may have originated in antiquity.
Some of them have been preserved by word of mouth for generations and have become commonplace, while others have lost their original meaning or even disappeared over time.
If we take a closer look, we will find the historical origins and life imprints contained in the daily language, and if we experience the history and culture behind the language, we will be able to appreciate the profound heritage of Chinese civilization.
Language carries not only written information, but also the imprint of the living conditions of generations after generations, which records the bits and pieces of people, and at the same time inherits the painstaking efforts and wisdom of countless ancestors.
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