The custom of "peach wood to ward off evil spirits" has existed since ancient times, and peach wood has been widely used in various occasions such as oaths, funerals, sacrifices, rituals, and exorcisms, both in the court and among the people. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, a broom made of peach branches, táo liè, was used in the alliance ceremony of various countries to sweep away bad luck. It is recorded in the "Zhou Li": "The alliance is to establish the alliance with jade." So he served, praised the cow ears and peaches. ”
During the Spring and Autumn Period, the ancients used bows made of peach wood - called peach arcs to avoid the harm of evil spirits. "The Fourth Year of Zhao Gong" also contains: "The ancients hid ice ,...... in the North ContinentIt is also out of the peach arc and thorny arrows to remove its disaster. ”
During the Qin and Han dynasties, an accessory made of peach wood - peach wood mao was widely loved, and became one of the most popular accessories among the people at that time because of its function of driving away evil spirits and avoiding epidemics.
In the Tang Dynasty, it became a custom for every household to "stand a peach person" in front of the door. Volume 86 of "Art and Literature Gathering" quotes Zhuangzi's words: "Insert peach branches in the household, and even ashes under them." The boy is not afraid, but the ghost is afraid. "Planting peach branches in the household" can be regarded as "peach people". In addition, the peach charm is also very popular, and the good wishes are written on the peach tree, which is called the "inscription peach charm". Wang Anshi's "Yuan Ri" in the Song Dynasty has a cloud: "Thousands of households always replace the new peach with the old one." Then, the peach charm gradually evolved from a spiritual object to a must-have thing for the New Year——— Spring Festival couplets.
Judging from various materials, there are two main ways to ward off evil spirits in ancient times: one is to wield and shoot ghosts with peach wood products such as peach sticks, peach sticks, and peach bows, so as to exert the power of peach wood to ward off evil spirits; The second is to put or wear peach wood products to suppress evil spirits, such as peach stems, peach charms, and peach wood mao.
The meaning of peach wood is so beautiful that it can no longer be limited to the custom of warding off evil spirits, and its connotation has been continuously expanded, forming a thriving peach wood culture. "Peach blossom with human face", peach blossom is a symbol of beauty; "Xanadu", the peach forest is a symbol of poetic dwelling; "Peach in return", peach is a symbol of good character. In addition, peaches are also endowed with a variety of cultural connotations such as longevity and prosperity.