Fortune-telling stories of the poor _ A brief introduction to fortune-telling stories of the poor

Traditional stories of Han nationality

Sending stove

"A cup of incense and a bowl of spring, the chef lives in heaven: if the jade emperor asks about human affairs, Meng Zheng's article is worthless." This was before Lv Mengzheng, a famous saint in the Northern Song Dynasty, became an official. He is as poor as a church mouse. On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, I couldn't get anything decent, so I had to send the stove to heaven with a wick, a bowl of water and a poem.

According to legend, Zhang's husband and wife Zhao Jun and Zhao Ma are nephews of the Jade Emperor, who sent them to the world to take charge of the fate of the family. Because they are enshrined near the cooker, people call them "chefs" or "kitchen gods" and become "heads of families".

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, it is said that all the gods sent by the Jade Emperor will return to heaven to report the merits and demerits of the human family in the past year. Then the jade emperor arranged the good and evil of each family in the coming year according to the suggestions of the gods. Some people in the DPRK are good officials, and they are even more arrogant because of the relationship between their uncle and mother. At this time, people are very wary and awe-inspiring of Master Zao. Especially in the past, women who were oppressed by the four powers (political power, clan, religion and husband's power) were most afraid that Master Zao would speak ill of himself in front of the Jade Emperor: lazy, glib, throwing rice noodles, or beating the public and scolding the old woman ... So every day, people (especially women) tried their best to curry favor with Master Zao. "The pig's head is cooked with fresh fish, and the bait with red bean paste and Gan Song powder is round." What's delicious? I'll give it to Grandpa Jujube! "Soft on other people's lips", the chefs who can't resist the temptation of food have to "speak well from the sky", and they don't report anything about their daughter-in-law "long spoon short" or "all hands and feet" to the Jade Emperor. In some places, there are no sticky foods such as sweet cakes and glutinous rice balls, so they try to stick Master Jujube's mouth, lest they make irresponsible remarks in front of the Jade Emperor and wait until next year to "return to the palace for good luck"!

Sincerity is the spirit. In those days, Lv Mengzheng did such a thing, but instead of blaming him, he put in many good words for him in front of the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor was overjoyed and ordered Jujube to go back to secretly bless him, which made him "sesame blossom day by day", and his career was open and prosperous, and he finally became the prime minister of the dynasty.

Although I went to Jiugong, I returned to Taige. This custom prevailed in the trilateral area before liberation. Let's talk about how the masses "invited" Master Zao to their home. Most locals dig a "mouth-shaped cliff kiln" on the wall near the stove, and a few rich people make a very exquisite wooden shrine attic, collectively called the stove house, in which people post colorful portraits of the stove mother. On the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, no matter the poor or the rich, they should take off this old portrait of Uncle Zao and burn it on the spot. At this time, the glib talker, while burning incense and kowtowing, read: "Good morning, your mother's real name is Zhang, and you know my family's situation;" I can't say anything today, but it will be lucky to return to the palace next year ... "Those clumsy and inarticulate people will make everything simple and clear, and Master Zhao is too busy with so many red tape!

"Buckwheat with three ridges and wheat tips, ten miles of land is unusual." The local people used Gu Mi soft cakes or buckwheat noodles to stick (paste) Master Jujube's mouth. In fact, women have long been doing the work of pasting (pasting) the stove mouth. Women who eat well after festivals, big or small, will spill food on the stove or give it to the stove with delicious food in utensils. Back on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, women were still holding "Laba porridge", splashing water or drawing circles on Mrs. Zao's mouth and eyes, which was even more dramatic.

On New Year's Eve on the 30th of the twelfth lunar month (the 29th of the twelfth lunar month), local people will post a new "invited" (bought) portrait of Grandpa Jujube in the kitchen, and offer a special steamed jujube hill white-flour jujube. In addition, there is no need to elaborate on the offerings such as noodle chicken, noodle rabbit, twist and oil cake. At this time, although the cooks are not alive, people respect them even more than before. Incense continued at night, firecrackers were set off at dawn, and after bathing, I went back to the palace by car, and the atmosphere was extremely solemn.

After liberation, after years of propaganda and superstition, there is still the saying that cooking stoves are sent on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, but there is no activity in fact. Here, a folk song from northern Shaanxi is used to illustrate the process described in this article, which is more vivid: "On the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, the kitchen god went to heaven; Day, don't worry about leisure, come back to eat jujube hill on the first day. " (Hou Zhanyuan) Sending the poor on the fifth day of the first lunar month (also known as "sending the poor daughter-in-law") is a very distinctive custom of the Han nationality in China, which is very popular and enduring in northern Shaanxi and its adjacent areas. The local people do not sweep out evil sand (that is, garbage) from the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month (New Year's Eve) to the fourth night of the first month of the following year. Every day, they clean up all the garbage in the house (kiln) and put it in the doorway, and put it in the garbage bin or pile it in the dark corner in the yard. On the fifth day of the first month, every household in urban and rural areas should load the garbage inside and outside the house (kiln) into carts or laundry baskets, transport it to thoroughfares or waterside or mountain roots for dumping, and burn incense and toast on them to show that the poor daughter-in-law has been sent away and greet the God of Wealth. As Yao Han, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, described in his poem "Sending the Poor": "Every year to this day, I drink and worship the streets; Looking at thousands of households, no one is not poor. "

In some places in northern Shaanxi, sending a poor daughter-in-law is also called "sending a poor ghost". Poor ghosts are also called "poor", accompanied by an old legend. According to historical records, it is said that the ancient emperor Zhuan Xu (Levin's) gave birth to a son in his palace. Children are thin and short, and like to wear rags. Even if new clothes are given to him, he will pick them up or burn a hole in them before wearing them. So he was called "poor boy" in the palace. Later, this "poor boy" died on a stormy night on the fourth day of the first month, and people buried him the next day. This is the so-called "sending the poor ghost". Since then, the custom of sending the poor on the fifth day of the first month has been passed down from generation to generation.

In Yulin in northern Shaanxi, Shenfu in Inner Mongolia, Yike Zhaomeng and Northwest Shanxi, when people hold sacrifices to send the poor, women will also make a small cloth (paper) man with a pocket out of five-color cloth (paper) strips to symbolize the poor wife. Decorate the food in your pocket as dry food. Small cloth (paper) people and garbage will be transported to the scene and burned with fire. Send the poor will also say the mantra: "poor daughter-in-law is poor, poor daughter-in-law is poor, poor daughter-in-law has long left my house." Drink water for 30 miles, rest for 50 miles and eat for 80 miles. It is as urgent as the law to leave my house and go to the door of the rich! " These spells are all suitable for the occasion and have different pronunciations. Broadly speaking, everyone wants to give his "poor daughter-in-law" or "poor ghost" to the enemy (enemy). Legend has it that during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression period, Yulin people read the mantra when sending the poor: "The poor daughter-in-law left us, and I'll find you a good host. Japanese devils and westerners, I will send you to Japan, and you will find the Japanese! "

After seeing off a "poor daughter-in-law" or a "poor ghost", every household should pack jiaozi or fried cakes to eat. This is called "filling the poor pit".

Although these superstitious customs are old and vulgar, they also reflect the traditional psychology that people hope to send away the poverty and sadness in the past and usher in a better life in the new year last month. This is a beautiful wish among the people and should be guided correctly and actively. (Hou Zhanyuan)

Send the poor

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, "seeing off the poor" (also known as "seeing off the poor daughter-in-law") is a unique custom of the Han people in China, which is very popular and enduring in northern Shaanxi and its neighboring areas. The local people do not sweep out evil sand (that is, garbage) from the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month (New Year's Eve) to the fourth night of the first month of the following year. Every day, they clean up all the garbage in the house (kiln) and put it in the doorway, and put it in the garbage bin or pile it in the dark corner in the yard. On the fifth day of the first month, every household in urban and rural areas should load the garbage inside and outside the house (kiln) into carts or laundry baskets, transport it to thoroughfares or waterside or mountain roots for dumping, and burn incense and toast on them to show that the poor daughter-in-law has been sent away and greet the God of Wealth. As Yao Han, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, described in his poem "Sending the Poor": "Every year to this day, I drink and worship the streets; Looking at thousands of households, no one is not poor. "

In some places in northern Shaanxi, sending a poor daughter-in-law is also called "sending a poor ghost". Poor ghosts are also called "poor", accompanied by an old legend. According to historical records, it is said that the ancient emperor Zhuan Xu (Levin's) gave birth to a son in his palace. The child is thin and short and likes to wear rags. Even if new clothes are given to him, he will pick them up or burn a hole in them before wearing them. So he was called "poor boy" in the palace. Later, this "poor boy" died on a stormy night on the fourth day of the first month, and people buried him the next day. This is the so-called "sending the poor ghost". Since then, the custom of sending the poor on the fifth day of the first month has been passed down from generation to generation.

In Yulin in northern Shaanxi, Shenfu in Inner Mongolia, Yike Zhaomeng and Northwest Shanxi, when people hold sacrifices to send the poor, women will also make a small cloth (paper) man with a pocket out of five-color cloth (paper) strips to symbolize the poor wife. Decorate the food in your pocket as dry food. Small cloth (paper) people and garbage will be transported to the scene and burned with fire. Send the poor will also say the mantra: "poor daughter-in-law is poor, poor daughter-in-law is poor, poor daughter-in-law has long left my house." Drink water for 30 miles, rest for 50 miles and eat for 80 miles. It is as urgent as the law to leave my house and go to the door of the rich! " These spells are all suitable for the occasion and have different pronunciations. Broadly speaking, everyone wants to give his "poor daughter-in-law" or "poor ghost" to the enemy (enemy). Legend has it that during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression period, Yulin people read the mantra when sending the poor: "The poor daughter-in-law left us, and I'll find you a good host. Japanese devils and westerners, I will send you to Japan, and you will find the Japanese! "

After seeing off a "poor daughter-in-law" or a "poor ghost", every household should pack jiaozi or fried cakes to eat. This is called "filling the poor pit".

Although these superstitious customs are old and vulgar, they also reflect the traditional psychology that people hope to send away the poverty and sadness in the past and usher in a better life in the new year last month. This is a beautiful wish among the people and should be guided correctly and actively. (Hou Zhanyuan)

Call for the soul

"Soul return" has existed since ancient times. In the past, there was a strong feudal superstition custom of evoking souls in the trilateral area, and there were also many legends and stories related to evocation. Soul calling can be divided into peacetime (individual) and festivals (collective). In the past, the science and culture in these areas (especially in remote mountainous areas) were extremely underdeveloped, and the masses believed that people had concrete souls. At the same time, they also believe that the soul will be hooked by ghosts. Sometimes people will be scared out of their wits (such as meeting wild animals at night) and get carried away. Anyway, I'm at my wit's end, so people are going to get sick, or depressed, or insane, or have a headache and brain fever, or don't think about it for a long time. If the circumstances are serious, please ask the wizard to set up an altar to summon souls and engage in superstitious activities; In view of this, the host family calls it the soul itself, and it is better to talk than not to cure.

Soul summoning is generally composed of summoner and responder, and it is held after dark (so-called "starry sky"). But before that, the following items must be completed:

First of all, all the candles and candles in front of the Buddha's (shrine) hall and stove are lit, bright and solemn.

Secondly, according to the patient's age, pinch a face lamp at the age of one and put it out of the door step by step from the patient's bedside (kang).

Third, prepare a basket with five-color cloth strips, small paper figures, a rolling pin, a broom and a little food.

At this time, the caller was holding a basket, and the person who answered the phone followed closely, walking slowly, either to the intersection, to the mountain or to the river. Call the soul not to burn paper. At the destination, the caller first wrung a handful of soil from the ground, wrapped it in paper and put it in the basket. Then he turned his head, waved a rolling pin ("homophonic with catching the word, meaning to catch the separated soul back"), and called the patient's name X X X Go home! The respondent immediately replied, "Come back!" Its echo sound is urgent and serious, rippling in the empty night. In this way, the caller walked back to the door of the patient's room (kiln), and the caller moved the door shaft (commonly known as "door drill") and continued to call the patient's name: X x x Go home! " At this time, people in the room (kiln) can also promise: "Come back!" " As a result, the sound of "coming back" inside and outside the room (kiln) reached a climax.

In this way, first far and then near, still concocted (without derogatory meaning), three times in a row. Then, the caller went to the patient's side, constantly sweeping his body with a broom, and whispered in the back: "The soul is on the floor, and the soul is possessed; Long life and wealth, never ecstasy: avoid disasters and take refuge, never commit crimes ... "The answer finally echoed a long string of" music "words:" Upper body, possessed; Longevity and wealth; After that, put the surface, the small paper man and the amulet of the sorcerer or the "degree" of Yin and Yang back into a small red cloth triangle purse, and put it in the liquid pit (i.e. armpit) of the patient's coat with five-color cloth strips. Finally, let the patient eat a few mouthfuls of food left in the basket, which shows that the human soul is one.

The so-called "festival" evocation refers to the collective evocation of souls by the whole family on the seventh night of the first lunar month. According to the biography of Northern History Wei Shou, Dong Xun replied: "The first day of the first month is a chicken, the second day is a dog, the third day is a pig, the fourth day is a sheep, the fifth day is a cow, the sixth day is a horse, and the seventh day is a day." Locals call it "human seven" or "human feelings", saying that "exceeding seven" is "off-year". Legend has it that this is a happy and peaceful day, and the stars shine on the earth. At night, outdoor lanterns are hung high, indoor incense wax is lit, and it is bright inside and outside. The collective soul call is the same as above, except that the oldest person in the family made a face lamp to light it. The lighting surface lamp is placed on a high table indoors or outdoors, which is called "Shunxing lamp" or "Longevity lamp", which is very spectacular. When calling the soul, choose two people with the smallest generation, and call (respond) the generation names of human relations in turn according to the generation order (elders can also call the younger generation) until the call is over. Then, the whole family got together to have a big reunion dinner, and everyone liked it.