Years of history

How did the year come from? There are two main folk sayings. There is a saying: According to legend, there was a monster named Nian in ancient China, which had long tentacles and was ferocious. Nian lived on the seabed for many years, and climbed ashore every New Year's Eve, devouring livestock and killing people. Therefore, on New Year's Eve, people in the village fled to the deep mountains to avoid the harm of Nian beast. On New Year's Eve this year, people in Taohua Village were taking refuge in the mountains when an old beggar came from outside the village. He was leaning on crutches, carrying a bag on his arm, with elegant silver whiskers and staring at Matthew. Some villagers sealed windows and locked doors, some packed their bags, some herded cattle and drove sheep, and people shouted boo everywhere, which was a scene of panic. At this time, who still has the mind to take care of this begging old man? Only an old woman in the village east gave the old man some food and suggested that he go up the mountain quickly to avoid the "Nian" beast. The old man said with a smile, if my mother-in-law lets me stay at home for one night, I will definitely drive the Nian beast away. The old woman looked at him carefully in surprise and found that he was handsome, energetic and different. But she continued to persuade and begged the old man to laugh without saying a word. My mother-in-law had no choice but to leave home and take refuge in the mountains. At midnight, Nian beast broke into the village. It found that the atmosphere in the village was different from previous years: the old woman at the east end of the village had red paper on her door and the room was brightly lit. The beast Nian trembled and let out a long whistle. Nian stared at her mother-in-law's house for a while, then screamed and rushed over. When we were near the door, there was a sudden explosion in the yard, and Nian trembled and dared not go any further. It turns out that Nian was most afraid of red, fire and explosion. At this time, my mother-in-law's door was wide open, and I saw an old man in a red robe laughing in the hospital. "Nian" was frightened to disgrace and fled in a hurry. The next day was the first day of the first month, and the people who came back from refuge were very surprised to see that the village was safe and sound. At this time, the old woman suddenly realized and quickly told the villagers the promise of begging for the elderly. The villagers flocked to the old woman's house together, only to see red paper on her mother-in-law's door, a pile of unburned bamboo still exploding in the yard, and several red candles still glowing in the house. In order to celebrate the auspicious arrival, ecstatic villagers put on their clothes and hats and went to relatives and friends' homes to congratulate and say hello. The story soon spread in the surrounding villages, and people knew how to drive away animals. Since then, every year on New Year's Eve, every family has posted red couplets and set off firecrackers. Every household has a bright candlelight, so it is better to wait for the New Year. In the early morning of the first day, I want to say hello to my relatives and friends. This custom has spread more and more widely, and has become the most solemn traditional festival among the people in China. Another way of saying this is that China ancient calligraphy books put the word "Nian" in the Grain Department, indicating that the weather is good and the crops are abundant. Because cereal crops are usually harvested once a year. So "nian" was extended to the name of that year.

Although there was a custom of Spring Festival in ancient China, it was not called Spring Festival at that time. Because the Spring Festival referred to at that time refers to the "beginning of spring" among the 24 solar terms. The Northern and Southern Dynasties generally referred to the Spring Festival as the whole spring. It is said that the Lunar New Year was officially named Spring Festival after the Revolution of 1911. Because the solar calendar was used at that time, the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar had to be renamed the Spring Festival in order to distinguish between farmers and farmers.

Regarding the origin of "Nian", there is a folk legend: in ancient times, there was a monster named "Nian", who often gathered people to make trouble, killing people and setting fires. People tried many ways, but they couldn't kill it. Just as the people told them every day not to do it, the land was ineffective, and they were ready to move out, a strong man appeared, and he was willing to give his life to die together with the year in exchange for the people to live and work in peace and contentment. Later, the strong men launched a life-and-death struggle with Nian in the place where Nian frequented. In the end, Nian was killed and the strong man died unfortunately. In order to remember this strong man and congratulate him on his rebirth, people held various grand celebrations, set off firecrackers and put up door gods to exorcise evil spirits on the day he was killed in 2008, which gradually formed a habit and passed it down. Since then, human beings have said "Chinese New Year".

Year is the common name of the Spring Festival. Speaking of spring, you will naturally think of summer, autumn and winter, and even think that there are 24 solar terms and 365 days in a year. So, who makes the disorderly world orderly and the chaotic world clear? It's emperor Yao. It was Emperor Yao who first stood at the forefront of scientific research, stepped into the dark nature, sought and pursued laws, sought light and gained insight into the world.

"China Ancient History Five Thousand Years of Romance" records that Yao, who became a leader, was as broad as the sky and omnipotent; Wisdom is as subtle and omniscient as God. ..... Yao put Li Zhonghe in charge of observing astronomical phenomena and divining providence. After a long time, he and Li actually became two astronomers! They also pass on their astronomical knowledge to Hehe, so that more people can understand astronomical phenomena. After Yao appointed Hou Ji as a farmer, farming became more and more developed, and he felt that sowing and harvesting must master the four seasons, and mastering the four seasons must understand the astronomical phenomena. So Yao summoned He, others and ordered He to observe the celestial phenomena carefully and make a calendar according to the operation of the sun, the moon and the stars, so that people could engage in production on time. He ordered Xi Zhong to live on the eastern seashore, observe and record the position and time of sunrise, and take the day and night as the vernal equinox; Uncle Xi was ordered to live in Du Ming in the south and observe how the sun moves south to determine the summer solstice. Life and species live in the valley of ignorance in the west, measuring sunsets to determine the autumnal equinox; Life and uncle live in a hidden capital in the north, observing the direction of the sun moving from south to north to determine the winter solstice. After finishing his homework, Yao said, "I tell you, about 366 days can be a cycle, and the rest days can be solved by leap months, so that we can determine the spring, summer, autumn and winter." After determining the four seasons, you can naturally determine the year. "

Looking through the Book of Records of the Historian Yao Dian, we can know: (Emperor Yao) "xi He is the one who is ordered to respect heaven. The calendar is like the sun, the moon and the stars, and the police teach the people. The teacher ordered the west, ... the emperor said: consultation! If the evening is harmonious, there will be six days in three hundred and sixty years, and the leap month will be set at four o'clock to reach the year ... "Thus, it is indisputable that Emperor Yao decided on the lunar calendar.