Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional festival that has been developed for many years in China. In this festival, in addition to tomb sweeping, our ancients also had a sport, that is, chicken fighting. So why do we have chicken fighting on Tomb Sweeping Day? Let's learn about it.
Why do we have to fight chickens on Tomb Sweeping Day
In Zhuangzi, Ji Hezi raised cockfighting for the king and explained the way to keep healthy. This shows that in the Warring States period, chicken fighting was a well-known game. Another book about fighting chickens in the Warring States period is "strategies of the Warring States", which records that Linzi people, the capital of the state of Qi, enjoyed fighting chickens and running dogs. According to Zuo Zhuan, Ji min puts iron armor on the cockfighting, which is helpful for defense; Hou Shi puts claws on the cockfighting, which is helpful for attack, and the cockfighting is very technical. In the Han Dynasty, cockfighting prevailed in the palace. There was a cockfighting platform in Changle palace. Cao Pi and Cao Zhi all wrote poems about cockfighting.
Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty liked to fight chickens. He asked Du Yan to write a poem about fighting chickens. Du Yan's poem was entitled "singing about cold food fighting chickens" (cold food festival, the day before Qingming Festival). Before Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, ascended to the throne, he played the game of cockfighting during the Qingming Festival. According to the records of Tang Dynasty, cockfighting is the custom of Qingming Festival. Biography of Dongcheng fathers: every year on Qingming Festival, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty held a chicken fight competition in the palace, and the Empresses of the six palaces and the civil and military officials came to watch. At that time, the drum and music will sing together and the scene will be grand. Why is Qingming Festival the most popular day for cockfighting? This is scientific. The ancients mastered the life habits of pheasants. The period from Qingming to June was the mating and hatching period, and the males fought fiercely for their mate. It is found that during the Qingming Festival, the temperament of the domestic rooster is also the strongest. If the two roosters fight each other at this time, the fierce battle is more wonderful than that of him.
Why do we have to fight chickens on Tomb Sweeping Day
The development of entertainment cockfighting into gambling makes gamblers even more crazy. In Tang Dynasty, Han Yu and Meng Jiao wrote a wonderful couplet with the title of cock fighting, describing the fierce fight between the two chickens. When the victory or defeat is uncertain, the cock fighters are nervous and sweating. When there is a clear distinction between the good and the bad, the winner will be happy. The loser is afraid to bear the burden and worry about the bribes. He looks sad when he loses money. People 'fight for the view, fill the road and help the waves to turn the sea'. It's about spectators crowding the streets and roads, shouting and screaming like the raging waves of the sea. I'm so drunk!
The Qingming chicken fighting custom still exists among the people, especially Kaifeng, Henan Province.
It is said that the custom of chicken fighting in Qingming Festival originated from the Warring States period, and later it was recorded in books and handed down. These customs are still preserved in some areas.