Life etiquette
As important milestones in human life, such as birth, adulthood, marriage, and death, although biologically only different stages of the life cycle of individuals, they have long been endowed with profound social significance in the rich culture of human society.
Since ancient times, Chinese people have been full of reverence and respect for the origin and conception of life. According to the Yellow Emperor's Neijing: Treatise on Strange Diseases, the source of certain congenital diseases, such as epilepsy, can be traced back to the fetal period. When the mother is frightened or other undesirable stimuli during pregnancy, it can cause the fetus to be affected, which in turn can manifest itself after birth.
Take King Zhou Wen's mother as an example, she was extremely cautious and caring when she gave birth to King Zhou Wen. She avoids bad colors, does not listen to the sound of lewdness, and does not speak ill words, so as to ensure that the fetus in the womb can grow up in a pure and harmonious environment. It is this deep care and meticulous care for the fetus that makes King Zhou Wen show extraordinary intelligence and wisdom as soon as he was born.
Therefore, the ancients emphasized that pregnant women should "sit dignified and emotionally happy" during pregnancy, and always maintain inner peace and joy. Because excessive emotions such as joy, anger, sadness, worry, and fear may cause harm to the fetus. The Ming Dynasty physician Wan Quan clearly pointed out in "The Baby's Family Secret": "The mother's qi is hurt, and the child's qi should be injured, and there is no one who is not injured." "This means that any discomfort in the mother can have adverse effects on the fetus.
In order to further ensure the healthy growth of the fetus, the ancients also made a recommendation that pregnant women should live alone after three months of pregnancy. This not only helps pregnant women maintain peace and harmony in their body and mind, but also avoids the interference of external adverse factors on the fetus. In such an environment, pregnant women should "keep their eyes and ears open" and ensure that the sounds, food, and atmosphere they are exposed to are beneficial to the growth of the fetus.
In ancient China, Xu Zhicai's "Month-by-Month Fetal Formula" of the Northern Qi Dynasty provided us with detailed guidance on month-by-month fetal care, showing the ancients' in-depth understanding and meticulous care for the growth of the fetus.
In January, when the embryo is first formed, the diet should be refined and rich in nutrients, such as barley, and avoid fishy and spicy foods. Pregnant women should avoid heavy physical work and ensure adequate rest to provide a stable environment for the fetus to grow.
In February, the fetus enters the "first cream" stage, at this time, pregnant women should avoid spicy and irritating foods, and the living environment should be kept quiet to prevent unnecessary disturbance to the fetus.
In March, the fetus has not yet been finalized and is extremely sensitive to the external environment. There is a folk legend that if you want to give birth to a boy at this time, you can always hold a bow and arrow; If you want to have a girl, you can play with pearls; I hope that the child is beautiful, and you can see more jade; To expect children to be virtuous, they need to maintain a dignified and pure attitude. At this time, pregnant women should avoid sadness, anxiety and alarm.
In April, pregnant women should add more japonica rice and fish and goose soup to their diet, while maintaining physical and mental peace and moderation, and providing adequate nutrition for the fetus.
In May, pregnant women should go to bed early and wake up early, pay attention to personal hygiene, live in a deep and quiet environment, and keep warm and moderate clothing. At this time, you should avoid overstarvation, avoid dry food, and reduce physical activity.
In June, pregnant women can participate in labor moderately, and should not be sedentary. Walking outdoors and enjoying natural scenery can help your baby grow. At this time, the diet should be based on raw meat of birds and beasts, but not excessively.
In July, pregnant women should live in a dry environment and eat more japonica rice in their diet to strengthen their bones and teeth. At the same time, avoid shouting, wearing thin clothing, bathing, and eating cold food.
In August, pregnant women should maintain a calm mood, avoid dry food, eat regularly, and avoid anger and mood swings.
In September, pregnant women should eat more sweet food, avoid living in wet and cold places, do not wear baked clothes, and pay attention to their sleeping position.
By October, the fetus is mature and ready to be born. At this time, pregnant women should be prepared to give birth and maintain peace and joy in body and mind.
In addition to the medical methods of fetal rearing, there are also some methods of fetal preservation based on the belief of gods. Although these practices lack scientific basis in the eyes of modern medicine, they have received some attention in ancient times. For example, Chen Ziming of the Song Dynasty has a section on "Fetal Killing to Avoid Avoiding Fetal Death", which mentions that "Fetal Killing" or "Evil" is a kind of fierce god that is believed to harm pregnant women and fetuses. This belief reflects the ancient people's sense of awe and mystery about the origin and growth of life.
In ancient belief systems, fetal gods were believed to follow specific patterns and shift locations over time. Although this belief lacks basis in the eyes of modern science, it has provided a kind of psychological comfort and behavioral guidance for many pregnant women in ancient societies.
Taking the change of the position of the moon travel god as an example, from the beginning of spring to Xiaohan, the position of each solar term fetal god is different, from the house bed to the mother's body, and then to the front of the kitchen, the gate and other places. Similarly, the position of the Sun Wandering God also varies according to the ten stems and the twelve branches. On these specific days, pregnant women are forbidden to sprinkle or place objects in the area where the fetal brake is located, as it may cause adverse effects on the fetus.
The setting of these taboos actually reflects the special care of the ancients for pregnant women and fetuses. Pregnant women undergo great physical and psychological changes during pregnancy, and these taboos provide them with a code of conduct that makes them more cautious in their actions and thus protect the safety of the fetus.
Although in modern society, these fetal god beliefs have gradually been replaced by scientific knowledge, in some regions, these traditions are still practiced by some people. However, we should look at these beliefs rationally, not be bound by superstitions, but draw the wisdom and care behind them.
These traditional taboos and beliefs, although they may differ in specific details, together embody a kind of awe and love for life.
Childbirth in ancient times was seen as a mysterious and important life process that was completely dependent on natural natural childbirth. In order to ensure a smooth process, the father-to-be and those involved with the mother pray and plan for the birth process on a spiritual level and prepare well on a practical level.
According to the Book of Rites, when a woman is about to give birth, she is placed in a side room in a separate room to ensure privacy and quietness during childbirth. During this special period, the husband cannot enter the delivery room, but can only send someone in to greet him to show his concern and support for his wife. When the woman gets up, the husband can enter the delivery room, but also be cautious and respectful. This side room later evolved into what we call the delivery room.
The preparation of the delivery room is an important part, and it is necessary to choose an auspicious day for the decoration. The doors, windows and walls of the delivery room should be plugged to prevent thieves from entering and ensure the safety of the mother and the fetus. Mud, etc., on walls and roofs should also be carefully inspected to avoid dangerous situations such as falling.
In the delivery room, there is also a reading chart, which is an ancient tradition. According to the sixth volume of the Tang Dynasty medicine king Sun Simiao's "A Thousand Golden Treasures", if the delivery room is not arranged according to the birth map, it may lead to injuries to the mother and child. The production map lists the location of the gossip, the dry branch and other information, and the location of the production pavilion and hidden clothes in the delivery room must be selected and set according to the provisions on the production map. This is done not only to follow age-old traditions, but also to provide a secure and safe delivery space for the mother.
Medical technology in modern society has been highly developed, and the birth process is more safe and controllable, but we can still draw wisdom from these ancient traditions. Childbirth is not only a physiological process, but also a psychological and social process. Providing a quiet, comfortable and safe environment for mothers, with adequate care and support, is key to ensuring a smooth delivery. These traditions also remind us that respect for nature, respect for life, and respect for tradition is our eternal pursuit.
This ancient custom is mainly carried out by the mother's mother's family. According to the "Tokyo Menghualu" of the Northern Song Dynasty and the "Menglianglu" of Wu Zimu of the Southern Song Dynasty, when the due date is approaching, the mother's family will carefully prepare a birth ceremony. The gift consists of a silver pot or painted pot filled with corn stalks, covered with brocade or colored handkerchiefs, and inserted with flowers, grass, and five men and two women, symbolizing good wishes for the sex of the newborn. In addition, 120 painted duck eggs, steamed buns, raw dates, chestnuts, mutton and other foods, as well as children's embroidered clothes and other items, will be sent to the son-in-law's house. This traditional ceremony is not only a sign of care and blessing for the mother, but also reflects the expectation and joy of the mother's family for the newborn.
When childbirth is approaching, experienced midwives are brought in to the home, and they are traditionally called stable, seated, midwife, midwife, etc., and are one of the most respected professions. The arrival of the midwife means that the mother and her family have received professional support and protection, and their professional knowledge and experience provide an important guarantee for the safety and smoothness of the delivery process.
The puerperium used by ancient mothers was mostly the stalks of rice and millet, a tradition that can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. For this reason, childbirth is also called "sitting on the grass" or "falling on the grass". With the change of time, the material of the puerperal gradually improved, but the name is still used today.
People also have the habit of using straw mats as "sitting" or letting the mother sit on a large basin to give birth, so childbirth is also called "proximity" or "sitting on the basin".
When a baby falls to the ground and announces the birth of a new life, in order to enable this new life to smoothly integrate into society and complete its first important role change after joining the WTO, parents will carefully plan and hold a series of "WTO" ceremonies for him or her.
First of all, depending on the sex of the newborn baby, parents will adopt a reception with deep witchcraft overtones. According to the "Book of Songs, Xiaoya Sigan": "It is a man who is born, a bed that carries sleep, a garment that carries clothes, and a zhang that carries a play." Its weeping, Zhu Fusi Huang, the king of the family. It is a place of birth, a place of sleep, a cloth of clothes, and a tile of play. It's nothing more than no etiquette, only wine and food are discussed, and there are no parents to blame. This means that if a boy is born, he will be placed on a bed that symbolizes the sky and masculinity, wrapped in clothes that represent freedom of movement, and placed next to him a jade zhang, which represents power and rules, in the hope that he will be responsible and effective in the future; If she is a girl, she will be placed on the ground that symbolizes the earth and femininity, wrapped in a quilt that represents the housekeeping of the family, and a spinning wheel representing the female red and housework will be placed next to her, implying that she will be able to be clever and good at home in the future.
To celebrate the arrival of a newborn baby and pray for his or her future, different items are hung at the gate depending on gender. If it is a boy, the parents will hang a bow on the left side of the gate to symbolize that he will be able to fight bravely and defend his family and country in the future. In the case of a girl, a joy (an ornament in the enclosure) will be hung on the right side of the gate, hoping that she will be dignified and virtuous in the future, and the family will be harmonious. This traditional custom has also evolved into the custom of hanging red cloth strips at the door in many places in modern times, implying auspiciousness and festivity.
In ancient traditions, the handling of the afterbirth garment and umbilical cord was given special meanings and rituals. From the silk book unearthed from the No. 3 tomb of Mawangdui in Changsha in 1973, we learned about the "Yu Tibetan Burial Diagram Method" recorded in the "Miscellaneous Prescription" and the "Fetal Birth Book". This method requires washing the afterbirth with water and sake, placing a copper coin, putting it in a new bottle, sealing it with green cotton, and choosing a safe place to store it. After three days, find a sunny highland, dig a three-foot deep pit, bury it deeply, and step on it, hoping that the child can live a long and healthy life.
For newborn umbilical cords, the treatment is different from that of afterbirths. In ancient times, after the umbilical cord fell off, it was necessary to choose a lively place to bury it, which may mean that the child will be able to integrate into society and live a colorful life in the future.
This is followed by the ritual of washing three. According to the Book of Rites, three days after the birth of a baby, if it is a boy, a ceremony will be held to shoot arrows at the four directions of heaven and earth, symbolizing that the boy will take on the heavy responsibility of the heavens and the earth and the four directions in the future. Girls do not perform archery rituals, but it is unknown whether there are other corresponding rituals. Although there was no exact record of whether children were bathed on this day in the pre-Qin period, there was a clear record of washing three in the Tang Dynasty. On this day, parents prepare fruit for their children and bathe them in a golden basin, which means washing away impurities and welcoming new life.
At the same time as washing the children, there is also an important ritual - "falling off the navel and burning the fontanelle". This means removing the umbilical cord and gently brushing the door of the child's head with a candle flame, which is not only a blessing to the child, but also means that the child will be able to be bright and intelligent in the future. More often than not, however, the umbilical cord is left to fall off naturally, and parents silently pray for the safety and health of their children while they wait.
On the day of the full moon, the home is filled with joy and celebration. On this day, the grand "children's washing party" was held as scheduled, and the relatives of the two families sent various gifts such as embroidered money and fruits, implying blessings and expectations for the newborn. The ritual of washing children is also unique, the family boils hot water and pours it into the delicate washbasin, and then puts in fruits, colored money, green onions, garlic and other items, and the colored threads are wrapped around the basin, which is called "basin". Then, the water is stirred with a hairpin, which is called "stirring pot", and the onlookers throw money into the water, which means adding endless wealth to the child's future, which is called "adding a pot". After some washing, the child's fetal hair is carefully cut off, and then the child is held all over the family and guests, and then goes to the aunt's and aunt's room for a turn, which is called "shifting", which means that the child begins to integrate into the family and society. After that, the feast entertained the relatives of the husband and wife to share the joy and blessings.
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, it is the time of the 100th day. On this day, a grand celebration feast is also held, also known as "100 years old". Its origins can be traced back to the Book of Rites, the Inner Rules, which states that three months after the birth of a child, a ceremony is held on an auspicious day. Among them, there are two main rituals for children: one is to cut hair, boys cut into horns, girls cut into bonds, which is not only a witness to the growth of children, but also a good wish for the future; The second is to name the child, and the name is hidden on the post along with the birthday, implying the fate and future of the child's life. At the same time, it is necessary to report to the official like today's household registration, which is not only a confirmation of the identity of the child, but also a respect for the family inheritance.
When a child is born on its first anniversary, a grand "Zhou Zui" celebration banquet is held, which is the child's first birthday and is of great significance. The most striking ritual in this celebration is the "Catch the Week".
The earliest mention of the "grasp Zhou" ritual is the Northern Qi Yan Zhitui's "Yan's Family Motto", which records the customs of the south of the Yangtze River, after the child is born for a year, he should take a bath and change new clothes, and then place various items in front of him, such as bows, arrows, paper and pens, knives, rulers, needles, etc., to observe the things he takes, and to ** his future character and ambition.
The elder Meng of the Northern Song Dynasty also described a similar scene, when he was one year old, various items were placed on the ground, such as children, food, official letters, pen inkstones, etc., by observing what the child took first, to speculate on his career and wishes when he grew up. In history, there is no shortage of interesting things to catch Zhou, such as the Northern Song Dynasty general Cao Bin caught the beans and seals when he was one year old, which attracted people's amazement; And Jia Baoyu in "Dream of Red Mansions" grabbed the fat powder hairpin ring, which aroused the dissatisfaction and worry of his father Jia Zheng. Nowadays, most of the utensils used to grasp the week are selected according to the representative tools of the professions such as scholars, farmers, industrialists, and merchants, implying expectations and blessings for children's future careers.
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