Why do children hang bows and arrows around the house when they are born?

After the baby is born, if it is a boy, hang a bow on the left side of the door, if it is a girl, hang a scarf on the right side of the door.

Manchu people have an ancient nomadic hunting tradition, and they worship the strength of men very much. In Manchu families, if a boy is born, a small bow and arrow will be hung on the left door frame. The bow and arrow is about a foot long and made of bamboo skin, which indicates that the teenager will become a heroic shooter with high martial arts when he grows up.

If a girl is born, a red or blue cloth will be hung on the right frame of the door at home, and this cloth will be called "Taha Patch" to symbolize good luck.

This custom of expanding Manchu information was first recorded in the Book of Rites: "When the son was born, the man set an arc on the left side of the door and the woman set an arc on the right side of the door." The "arc" here refers to the bow, and the "Xun" refers to the handkerchief worn on the body, which means hanging a bow on the left side of the door when giving birth to a boy and a handkerchief on the right side of the door when giving birth to a girl.

Bow and arrow is an important symbol of ancient folk culture. Ancient men should learn to ride horses and shoot arrows at an early age, advocating that men's left side should be respected and women's right side should be humble. So the bow and arrow hung on the left side of the door, indicating that the newborn is a boy.

In addition, in ancient times, women could not be disturbed during childbirth, and children had to be washed three times before they could be carried out of the delivery room. Bows and arrows or cloth strips are hung on the door to announce whether the newborn is a boy or a girl. This ceremony is called "hanging bows and silks". At the same time, this way can also remind vendors, blacksmiths and people with megaphones to keep quiet so as not to disturb mothers and babies.