At dawn the village was still shrouded in mist, with only the crowing of chickens echoing in the quiet air. On such a seemingly ordinary morning, the old houses of the village were brightly lit, and a heavy and solemn atmosphere filled the air. Today is the day when the oldest Zhang family in the village holds a funeral ceremony for their deceased parents. At this momentous moment, all the villagers know that there will be a mysterious and ancient ritual about to be performed - the eldest son "throwing the pot".
The historical origins of the custom of wrestling pots.
In some parts of China, an ancient funeral custom is quietly circulating, and that is the "clay pot". It is said that the origin of this custom can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period, and it is closely associated with a politician and military strategist named Fan Li. Fan Li, a figure who has left a deep mark on history, not only has extraordinary political and military achievements, but is also a visionary businessman.
Fan Li is known in Chinese history as a pioneer in the commercialization and standardization of the pottery industry. In his time, although pottery had a history of nearly 10,000 years in China, its production and technology were mainly concentrated in the mastery of **, and it was difficult for ordinary people to participate in it. However, the emergence of Fan Li changed this pattern, he was not only a politician and military strategist, but also a forward-thinking business thinker.
His vision went beyond the political and military spheres of the time and turned to the development of civilian economic activity. Under his promotion, the pottery industry began to gradually liberate itself from the monopoly of the first class and spread to the people. Fan Li encouraged and supported ordinary people to participate in pottery making, so that the industry began to show vigorous vitality. This initiative not only promoted the development of the local economy, but also allowed the pottery making technology to be widely disseminated and innovated.
In Fan Li's later years, there is a widely circulated story, which is closely related to the custom of "breaking tile pots". It is said that at the end of his life, Fan Li made a clay pot with his own hands, which is different from any previous work, and it embodies all his understanding and emotions of the art of pottery. This clay pot is considered his last tribute to the cause of pottery and a symbol of his life's wisdom and efforts.
However, Fan Li did not leave this clay pot as a family heirloom, but made an incredible decision at some point before his death. When his ** people sat around him, Fan Li pointed to the clay pot and expressed a wish. He hopes that his ** people can continue to carry forward the pottery industry he founded.
Then, an unexpected scene happened. A ** stood up, walked up to the clay pot, suddenly lifted it high, and then slammed it to the ground. The clay pot shattered in an instant, and the fragments were scattered all over the ground. This seemingly destructive act is actually a deep understanding of the philosophy and art of Master Fan Li. By breaking the clay pot, this ** symbolizes the end of the old and the beginning of the new, which is the highest respect for the master and the innovation of the tradition.
Although there is no conclusive evidence for this story in historical records, it has become a widely circulated legend among the people. This story is not just about a clay pot, but also about craftsmanship, heritage and innovation. And the clay pot in this story became a symbol of the later custom of "throwing tile pots".
Another legend: the story of an orphan who fell into a clay pot.
In a small village in ancient China, there is a touching story about an orphan and a clay pot left behind by his mother. The child lost his father at a young age and was raised by his hardworking and kind mother. A mother's life is not easy, but she always faces difficulties with an optimistic attitude and tries her best to give her children the best care and education. In this small family, there is one thing that is particularly valuable, and that is a simple clay pot.
Although this clay pot is unpretentious, for them it carries many good memories. The mother often used this clay pot to hold fruits and food, and whenever the festival came, the mother and son would sit around the clay pot and share simple but warm happiness. However, the good times did not last long, and my mother finally died of illness due to overwork and age. The child lost the most important support of his life, leaving him and that clay pot full of memories.
As time passed, the child grew up, but his longing for his mother never diminished. He often picked up the clay pot and stroked it gently, as if he could feel the warmth and caress of his mother. In the dead of night, he would always sit alone by the clay pot, thinking about his mother.
Finally, one day, with the persuasion and companionship of the villagers, the child decided to go to his mother's grave and complete an important ceremony. Holding the precious clay basin in his hand, he slowly walked to the grave and bowed deeply. He then lifted the pot high and threw it hard to the ground. The clay pot shattered in an instant, as if the sorrow and restraint in his heart were released at that moment.
Although this act may seem simple, it is full of deep meaning. Breaking the clay pot is not only a material farewell to the mother, but also a spiritual relief and a new start for the future. Through this act, this child expresses his deep nostalgia for his mother and his strong face to life.
After the story spread in the village, the villagers were deeply touched. They began to imitate this act by breaking symbolic objects at the funeral of their loved ones as a memorial to the deceased and a respect for life. Over time, the practice evolved into a custom that spread not only in this village, but even in the wider region.
The meaning and rules of "wrestling tile pot".
With the passage of time, the custom of "throwing tile pots" has gradually been integrated into the culture of some parts of China, and has been endowed with rich and profound meanings. In the practice of this custom, people are not just performing a simple gesture, but through this ritual, they are expressing their wishes for the prosperity of the family and the safety of its members.
There is usually a series of rules and traditions that follow the ritual of "breaking the pot". One of the most important rules is that the pot must be broken on the first attempt. Behind this rule, there is an emphasis on decisiveness and decisiveness. In ceremonies, the pot is considered a symbol of family history and memory, and its fragmentation symbolizes the end of the past and the beginning of the future. Therefore, breaking the pot for the first time means a complete farewell to the past and a firm forward for the future.
There are also clear regulations on who will perform the ritual of "breaking the pot". Often, this responsibility falls on the eldest son of the deceased. This choice reflects the primogeniture system in traditional Chinese culture and the respect for primogeniture. The eldest son broke the clay pot, symbolizing that he, as the leader of the next generation of the family, shoulders the responsibility of carrying on the family tradition and maintaining the family honor. But in exceptional cases, if the eldest son is unable to fulfill this responsibility for various reasons, this important task is transferred to other family members. This could be a second son, eldest grandson, or other close family member to ensure the continuation of the ritual.
In the ritual of "breaking the tile pot", there is another important element, that is, the "descendant brick". At the site where the pot was broken, a special brick was placed, which was called a "descendant brick". It is not only used to ensure that the pot can be broken smoothly, but also given symbolic meaning. It is believed that the "descendant brick" symbolizes the prosperity and continuation of the family's descendants. In some areas, there is also a tradition that the person who breaks the pot will bring the "descendant bricks" home, which means that the family will be blessed by the ancestors and that future generations will be able to prosper.
It is important to note that if the pot is not successfully broken when it is broken, it is considered a sign of bad luck. In this case, there will be no second chance to break the pot. Instead, the funeral procession, usually the one who carries the coffin and guards the coffin, is responsible for breaking the unbroken pots. This initiative symbolizes the remedy for the unfinished business, as well as a final farewell to the deceased.
In modern society, with the development of cultural diversity and the transformation of lifestyles, the ancient custom of "throwing pots" is no longer the preferred way for most people to express their grief. Contemporary society provides more diverse ways to commemorate and remember deceased loved ones, such as online memorials, tree burials and other new forms of commemoration. Nevertheless, understanding and studying the custom of "falling the clay pot" is still of irreplaceable significance for us to deeply understand China's long-standing cultural traditions and funeral customs.
As a cultural phenomenon, "wrestling pots" profoundly reflects the profound attitude of ancient Chinese society towards family, inheritance and respect for the elderly. In traditional Chinese culture, the family is not only a collection of blood relations, but also the basic unit of cultural and moral inheritance. Each member of the family bears the responsibility of maintaining the honor of the family and passing on the family culture. Therefore, the "clay pot" is not only a nostalgia for the deceased, but also a symbolic practice of family continuity and cultural inheritance.
In addition, this custom also shows the Chinese's deep understanding of life and death, family affection and memory. In the ritual of "breaking the pot", the relatives of the deceased symbolize the final farewell to the deceased's life by breaking the pot, and also symbolize the cycle of life and death, and the impermanence of life. This deep understanding and acceptance of life and death is a unique attitude towards the topic of life and death in Chinese culture.
Although the practice of "wrestling pots" has been greatly reduced in modern society, it is still very important to study and protect it as a cultural heritage. Through the study of this traditional practice, we can not only better understand the way of life and cultural background of the past, but also think about how to maintain the connection with traditional culture in modern society. For example, some regions may recall and display the custom of "breaking pots" during specific cultural festivals, making it a cultural bridge between the past and the present.
Overall, the custom of "throwing a clay pot" is not just a simple ritual, it represents a deep understanding of family, kinship, and life and death in traditional Chinese culture. It is not only a way to commemorate the deceased, but also a profound embodiment of life, family and cultural inheritance.
Sun Chunping. Aftermath [J].Changjiang Literature and Art, 2016(12):4-13