Although Qin Shi Huang unified the units of measurement after the unification of the Six Kingdoms, there are still differences in the particularity and units of measurement between the dynasties. In addition to the common units of measurement for weight and length, there are also some units of measurement for liquids.
When we study ancient units of measurement, we rely mainly on comparisons with existing texts and conversions with modern units. However, sometimes the authoritative historical data is not contained, but some contemporary ** has been recorded, and this phenomenon often attracts our attention and research.
For example, there is a sentence in "Water Margin", which is set in the Song Dynasty"Let's beat the four corners first"How much is this four-cornered wine? According to Luda, Shi Jin, and Li Zhong, they said to the shopkeeper when they entered the door of the tavern"Enough for three people"This sentence inferred that the four-cornered wine could be drunk by at least three people.
This sentence shows that the first to hit means not enough to drink, and if three people finish drinking, they will ask for it again. People who go to the tavern to eat will estimate how much they can drink according to their own needs, which is why people like Lu Zhishen who love wine will drink four-cornered wine.
If he doesn't drink enough, he won't be happy.
The various rituals in the ancient feudal dynasties not only affected people's behavior, but also affected the formation of wine culture. Horn, as a kind of wine container in ancient times, carries the measurement of the amount of alcohol, reflecting the understanding and regulations of ancient people for drinking.
From Jue, Yao to Jiao, ancient Chinese wine culture is rich and colorful, full of strong historical charm.
The "horn" here is not derived from the horn of an animal, but a drinking vessel specially made for the use of civilians because of the relationship of status. Although this type of vessel was common in the pre-Qin period, Water Margin is set in the Song Dynasty, when people were more casual in drinking, and in most cases chose to use bowls as a drinking tool.
The existence of such vessels in the pre-Qin period does not mean that no changes have taken place in the Song Dynasty.
According to historical records, the amount of alcohol in the pre-Qin period was very small, only about the amount of one cup now, that is, the amount of ordinary people to drink. However, as described in "Water Margin"."Four Corners"Obviously, it is impossible to have as many as four mouthfuls, which is too far from the image in the book of eating meat and drinking in large bowls.
During the Song Dynasty, the capacity of wine containers has changed significantly, and it is no longer as small as it used to be. This is because the social development of the Song Dynasty had reached its peak, and commerce developed particularly rapidly, which made the scale of measuring various things tend to expand.
In addition, during the Song Dynasty, there were various wine containers, such as jars or bottles, which were often found in film and television dramas. Therefore, the capacity of wine containers in the Song Dynasty was obviously much larger than in the past.
In the pre-Qin period, one or two wines were about a dime, and the amount of wine at that time was smaller. However, in the Song Dynasty, what people called "one corner" was equivalent to the current five or six taels. If you think of a bottle of wine now as half a catty, then the four corners of wine are two catties.
Ancient liquor is a liquor made from grain, without any added substances, with a high degree and purity. Three people drank two catties of wine, which can no longer be regarded as a small amount. Only such a large amount of alcohol can match the image of these three people, they are all chivalrous, informal, and drinking is to be happy.
The unit of measurement has changed frequently over the years, not only in the vessel for sake, but also in other measurements. For example, the weight of a pound in modern times varies in different dynasties.
In the Sui Dynasty, a catty was about one and a half catties, seven hundred and fifty grams, while one catty in the Southern Dynasties period was only half a catty in modern times. Thus, while each dynasty had emperors with uniform weights and measures, the standards varied.
What can be bought for a pound in one dynasty may not be even half a pound in the next dynasty.
The development of the dynasty is related to the importance of things, the Song Dynasty, the importance of etiquette, so there are strict requirements for who uses what kind of utensils. At that time, when the powerful people drank, they would not drink with a bowl like a merchant in the market, but would use a lord to drink.
At the same time, each dynasty had a different level of economic development and even a different currency in circulation. The Song Dynasty was the pinnacle of commercial development in the feudal era, so more and more things tended to expand in size.
For ordinary people, their needs are often immediate and practical, and they seek convenience rather than complicated rituals. In the society of the Song Dynasty, there were a variety of places for people to entertain, and the prosperity of restaurants and restaurants promoted the development of various containers.
Many details in these ancient texts are often overlooked, but they shed light on the life and customs of the Song dynasty for us. Not only books, but also paintings, "The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival" vividly shows the lifestyle and diversity of the common people in the market of the Song Dynasty at that time.
A picture surprisingly found that the ancient restaurant already had a "takeaway" business, and there was a special Xiaoer who delivered the restaurant's food to customers' homes. At that time, these may have been new things, but as the times progressed, society continued to advance, and people's lifestyles became more and more diverse.
Reading not only broadens one's horizons, but also helps people better understand what history is really like. Although the story of ancient ** is fictional, the social customs contained in it are an important way to understand the folk customs of that time.
Only by understanding the historical background and weights and measures can we truly understand the stories and characters behind the "Four Corners" and avoid misunderstandings.