People say that 72,84 is a threshold. Why? Source?

Books such as China Dictionary of Common sayings and Beijing Dictionary of One-liners all say that "old sayings", "superstitious people think" and "seventy-three years old and eighty-four years old" are the obstacles for the elderly to feel sad. I am a dragon, born on July 6, 1928 at/kloc-0, and I am on the "Kaner" this year. My wife doesn't believe this, but for luck, she told me, "Say 72 this year, 74 next year, and hide 73." "But my temper is different from hers. I said that I am 73 years old this year, and I am going to say 73 next year.

What the hell is 7384? Coincidentally, I like proverbs since I was a child. I read more than a dozen related books at hand and recalled folk rumors and my own experiences. I think all the scholars and people in the past dynasties used or said this proverb in three different ways.

First, as the China Dictionary of Common sayings says, 73.84 is used to describe "talking one thing at a time and nagging one thing at a time". For example, in chapter 21 of the Water Margin, "The woman sat at the table with her head sideways, and her mouth was 73.84." "San Yan Er Pai Hang Shi Heng Yan" Volume 13 However, there is an envoy from Sandu, whose surname is Ran Guigui ... Although he is in the north and south, it was said in 7384. "Go back to Chapter 48 of the Biography of Awakening Marriage," Beating Sister Su's mouth to 73.84 without swearing ".

Second, it is used by oneself or others to describe "people who can't take care of themselves when they are old, who are useless when they are old, and who are alive to bother their children." For example, in the tenth volume of San Yan Er Pai Yu Shi Yan Ming, Shan Shanji said to Lao Tzu,' Life is seventy years old, which is rare'. My father is seventy-nine years old this year and eighty bales next year. Why not leave the housework to the children? "Taihang Fengyun" 42: "Yuan's mother put the scattered white hair behind her ear and said,' It's useless to be old. Seventy-three, eighty-four, immortality is also a thorn in the child's side. "

Third, it is the "threshold" theory of feudal superstition. There are two sentences in China Proverbs. One sentence said: "Seventy-three, eighty-four, the prince was uninvited." What if I don't want to go? The second sentence tells you: "Seventy-three, eighty-four, the king of hell wants to discuss things with you." Why have two "common proverbs" been circulating in China for more than two thousand years? I think this is not only a coincidence, but also related to thousands of years of feudal superstition. Confucius (Qiu), the most sage in China, lived 73 years (about 55 1-479 BC), and Mencius (Ke), the most sage, lived 84 years (372-289 BC). Since all saints have lived to this age and died, do you still want to surpass them? Don't propose a toast ("please"), don't eat, eat ("call") wine.

However, times have changed. According to Health Science, the average life expectancy was 32.43 years in the early days of liberation, but now the average life expectancy of many urban and rural residents in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin has exceeded 73 years. My parents and sister both died at the age of 84. There are also brothers and sisters who are doing well, of course, they are all older than me.

If the prince of Yan asks me to discuss the matter tonight, I will ask him: Why did the "two saints" surpass the "Great Sage"? Why do mortals surpass saints? Why don't they scream? "Kaner", still a 78-year-old comrade, does not believe in ghosts and gods, but believes in science. Don't whisper, saints also say that shine on you is better than blue. Feudal superstition is bullshit, there is no such thing as death!