The ancient customs of beginning of autumn

As early as the Zhou Dynasty, on the day of beginning of autumn, Emperor Tiandi personally led the princes and doctors of the Three Kingdoms and Nine Counties to the western suburbs to welcome autumn, and held ceremonies such as sacrifice and Ru Shou. The Han Dynasty still inherited this custom. History of Sacrifice in the Later Han Dynasty: "On the day of beginning of autumn, the western suburbs welcomed autumn and offered sacrifices to Bai Di Ru Shou. Dressed in white, Cheqi performed the song Xihao and the Bashu dance Yu Ming. And the son of heaven went into the nursery to shoot sacrifices to recommend the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the ancestral temple, and he was appointed to be Liu. Killing animals as sacrifices shows that Qiu Lai promotes martial arts. "

People have the custom of predicting whether the weather is cold or hot when they are in beginning of autumn. Cui Yan's "Four-person Monthly Order" in the Eastern Han Dynasty: "Welcome to beginning of autumn, it is chilly; In the autumn night, it is hot to the end. " At the beginning of autumn, people still have the custom of respecting the elderly.

In the Tang Dynasty, every day in beginning of autumn, five emperors were also sacrificed. "New Tang Book": "beginning of autumn beginning of winter worships the five emperors in the suburbs."

Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, drinking autumn water and eating red beans every day has become a custom. Take seven to fourteen small red beans and swallow them with well water, facing west when taking them, so it is said that dysentery can be avoided in autumn.

"Tokyo Dream" records: "At the beginning of autumn, the streets were full of catalpa leaves, and women and children were cut into patterns to wear. It's the month, and the fruits, pears and dates are flourishing. There are several kinds of dates in Shi Jing: Lingzao, Yazao, Qingzhou and Haozhou. When a chicken head goes on the market, Li and his family are most prosperous in Liangmen. Zhongjia, sell it. In the middle is the flood of gold. The scholar bought it, wrapped it in ten words, wrapped it in small new lotus leaves, and tied it with musk and little red sol. Although it sells a lot, it is not as good as Li He's monochrome silver skin. " "Legend of Wulin" says: "On the day of beginning of autumn, wear catalpa leaves and drink autumn water red beans." On the other hand, in the official residence, beginning of autumn held a ceremony to welcome the arrival of autumn. According to "Dream of Liang Lu", "At the beginning of autumn, Taishi Gongguan was banned from the court, and his royal highness planted phoenix trees. As soon as they handed it to beginning of autumn, Tai Shigong put on a bow and said, "Qiu Lai." At that time, one or two leaves fell in response to the sound, in order to express autumn. "

"Ji Sheng Jing Di Nian" said: The day before, beginning of autumn invited Chen Bing wax gourd, steamed preserved eggplant, fried and drunk, and invited beginning of autumn's family to drink. "It is said that there will be no malaria and dysentery after autumn." Xiangxieyin is an ancient prescription of traditional Chinese medicine, which consists of Xiangxieyin, white lentils and Magnolia officinalis. Has the functions of eliminating summer-heat dampness and preventing common cold. Therefore, the day before in beginning of autumn, people go to the drugstore to buy these medicines, fry them, sleep for one night, and then drink them cold the next day in beginning of autumn.