This year's January 5 is the small cold solar term, which was divided into three seasons in ancient China, namely: 'one is Yanbei Township, two is magpie nest, three is pheasant Robin. "This is also the only two solar terms in the whole year, except for Bailu, which are completely characterized by birds. Then let Xiaobian explain the cultural connotation of the three seasons of Xiaohan solar term for you. Let's understand it together.
In the cold season, although the land of Shenzhou is in the ice and snow, the ancestors found that the Yang energy in the cold period is actually increasing. When Xiaohan was waiting for Yanbei village, the ancestors observed the wild geese very carefully. The behavior of wild geese was also an important basis for the ancients to judge the solar term. Although the geese are still in the south for winter, they have sensed the positive and negative changes of yin and Yang, and the Yang is about to rise. The geese begin to fly back to their hometown from the south to the north.
Wild geese are well-known birds. In Chinese culture, wild geese are the top of the birds. They have been regarded as a "five constant" spirit since ancient times, that is, they have "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trust". Wild geese have benevolence. In a group of wild geese array, there are always the old, the weak, the sick and the disabled. Other young geese will not abandon them.
Wild geese have love meaning. The female and male geese are matched. From one end, one will die, and the other will commit suicide or die of depression. Wild geese always migrate in dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of them, and then fly in line with each other. The ancients called it "wild geese array".
The 'wild geese array' is led by experienced 'head geese'. When speeding up the flight, the team will form a 'human' shape. Once it slows down, the team will change from a 'human' shape to a 'one' long snake shape. This is an effective measure for long-distance migration, which is considered as a rite by the ancients.
Wild geese have wisdom. Wild geese are the most difficult things to hunt. When they land and rest, the wild geese in the flock will be guarded by lone geese. It is said that dogs are disgusted with the earth, geese are disgusted with the sky and snakeheads are disgusted with the water, which means they are alert and alert. Wild geese have letters. They are migrating birds from north to south. Due to the change of seasons, it moves from the uncomfortable period to the south in autumn, so it is called Yantian in autumn.
Wild geese have long been regarded as a symbol of civilization in Chinese culture. In ancient times, wild geese were used as gifts. The marriage etiquette created by the Zhou Dynasty is the basis of etiquette. Among the six rites of marriage, there are six stages: lottery, asking for name, Naji, nazheng, invitation period and greeting. Only the fifth stage does not need to use wild geese, and other rites need to use wild geese. That is to say, in the observation of Chinese people, wild geese are the most persistent and noble species of emotion.
In the second season, although it is the coldest time of the year, magpies will braved the severe cold and start to build nests, ready to breed offspring. Magpie is a kind of bird with strong adaptability. The more human activities there are, the more the population of magpie will be. However, it is difficult to see them in the dense forest with few people. It can be said that they are very popular birds.
Magpies often live in pairs or in large groups. They forage in the field during the day and perch on the top of tall trees at night. The Chinese add the word "magpie" before the magpie, which proves that magpie symbolizes auspiciousness in the eyes of Chinese people. According to folklore, magpies can report happiness, so they are called magpies.
It has almost become a very popular custom in our culture to draw magpies, Qi Baishi, Xu Beihong and others have painted magpies. Two magpies are called "happy to meet" face to face; two magpies are called "happy in front"; one badger and one magpie are called "happy in the sky" on the tree under the tree.
The most popular is the picture of magpie climbing plum branches to report happiness, which is also called "happy top". The observation of magpies by Chinese people is very early. In the book of songs, there are "magpies have nests and turtledoves live", which is the source of the idiom "magpies nest and turtledoves occupy".
Pheasants in the third season are pheasants. Pheasants in the mountains are also aware of the growth of Yang Qi and begin to sing for companions. We seldom see pheasants today, but in ancient times, pheasants also participated in the experience and expression of Chinese culture.
Pheasants are good at walking, but they can't fly long. Feathers can be used as decorations. In the book of songs, it is said that 'the male pheasant is flying and its feathers are discharged'. It is composed of two characters: vector and angle. Vector is vector and length unit, indicating the place. Angle is bird, and the original meaning of pheasant is resident bird, especially pheasant.
Therefore, the ancient people regarded the pheasant as a unit of length, and the wall with a height of three Zhang and a height of one Zhang was a pheasant. "Zuo Zhuan" said: 'the capital city has more than 100 pheasants. 'the city wall is called battlements. Xie Tiao, a landscape poet in the Southern Qi Dynasty, wrote a poem:' go out and look at the battlements in the tower, and see spring from afar and near. '
For the three seasons of Xiaohan, the ancients believed that if they did not wait at that time, there would be a problem in the omen. If the wild geese don't fly northward, it means that the people won't want to be king; if the Magpies don't build nests, it means that the country will not be peaceful; if the pheasants don't start to crow at this time, it means that the country will be flooded.