What did "various" mean in ancient times? How does it compare with modern times?

Various spellings, w ǔ hu ā b ā men, originally referred to the five-element array and the eight-door array. These are two ancient tactics with many changes. Metaphor is changeable or changeable. , from Yu Chu Xin Zhi Sun Jiagan

"Baibian" originally refers to "Wuhua Array" and "Bamen Array", both of which are the names of arrays in ancient art of war. Later it was generally used as a metaphor for all walks of life. The "five flowers" are: Jin Juhua, a woman who sells tea; Kapok-a doctor who treats people in the street; Narcissus-the singer in the restaurant; Hot flowers-juggling; Local cowflowers-some porters.

The "eight doors" are: a towel-fortune telling; Two-door skin-selling herbs; Three colors-juggling; Four hexagrams-Jianghu artists; Wumenping-storyteller and storyteller; Six doors away-street singers; Seven-tone-using tents and paper; Eight-door chat-singing opera on high platform.

In modern times, people also use the metaphor of "multifarious" to refer to the complexity and diversity of all walks of life. With the development of the times, the focus of meaning has changed, that is, it has expanded from industry to other things.