20 13 Zodiac, Daozhong Zodiac has something to say, Maonian says rabbit.

"Dao Zhonghua" WeChat official account read the original text

2023 is the year of Guimao, also known as the Year of the Rabbit. When you come home for the Spring Festival, someone asks you who you are. If you are familiar with the zodiac, you must know that it is asking your age. Today, we will talk about those things about Mao Tu.

Cat map of the zodiac

What is the "Zodiac"? Life, birth and the meaning of life. Xiao Xiangya. As the name implies, the zodiac is an animal image corresponding to the year of birth, and it is also the "zodiac".

You may ask: Why is it represented by the image of an animal? Why is it the zodiac? This is still a problem involving astronomy.

At the beginning of the fā exhibition of human society, the relationship between human and animals was very close. Animal worship exists in almost all parts of the world to varying degrees, raising animals to the height of gods, and even treating human beings as descendants of some animals they worship, offering sacrifices and praying for their protection. This should be a very important source of China Zodiac culture.

Twenty-eight astrolabes. (Source: Phoenix Network)

The origin of the zodiac may be related to China's observation of time in ancient times. The ancients in China observed the celestial phenomena, and divided the stars on the celestial sphere into 28 stars. With Jin Mu as the background, they observed the movement laws of the sun, the moon, water, fire and the earth, and Jupiter's orbit was similar to the ecliptic (the route of the sun moving once a year in the sky), which was called the "year star". The ancients divided Sunday into twelve equal parts, called the stars, which were represented by two branches. Every branch, that is, every year, corresponds to an animal familiar to the ancients, that is, the zodiac. The reason why ZHι in twelve places corresponds to different zodiac signs is related to the ancient people's understanding of the natural habits of animals.

Why is it "hairy rabbit"? In the process of astronomical observation, the ancients in China invented the Ten-day Trunk and the Twelve-day Trunk to carry the way of heaven and earth, and transported them to personnel, and recorded the year, month, day and time with stems. Archaeologists found that heavenly stems and earthly branches was first used as a calendar date in Oracle Bone Inscriptions in Shang Dynasty, and the application of trunks and branches was very mature. The ten-day work is: A, B, C, D, E, G, Xin, Ren and Gui. The corresponding relationship between the twelve earthly branches and the zodiac has basically taken shape more than 2,000 years ago, namely, the mouse, the ugly cow, the yin tiger, the hairy rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the black horse, the sheep, the monkey, the unitary chicken, the gǒu and so on. It can be seen that the zodiac is a cultural treasure house summarized by the ancients from astronomy and geography.

Pottery figurines of the Chinese zodiac in Tang Dynasty. (Source: official website, National Museum of China)

Mao is the fourth branch of the earth. It represents the spring day in February, when everything recovers, and it also represents Shi Mao at twelve o'clock in ancient times, that is, from five to seven in the morning. It is the time when the sun rises, the sun shines high and the ancients report their achievements. And the hair of Oracle bone inscriptions (

) This word is the way two doors open. At this time, rabbits also began to come out for activities and foraging, so they were called "hairy rabbits".

Paper-cut work "Rui Rabbit sends fú". (Source: Yang)

China Story of Hairy Rabbit

Rabbits are our loyal partners. They are immersed in the culture of China, and they have continued to this day. There were pottery rabbits in Shijiahe culture in Neolithic age; There are also records of "rabbits" in Oracle Bone Inscriptions during the Shang Dynasty. There were many images of jade rabbits in Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The rabbit image in literature, art works and folk culture is even more colorful.

"jathyapple Thousand Miles Heart" Rabbit-shaped Button Seal in Sichuan Museum. (Source: China News Network)

Sacrifice ancestors. In the Zhou Dynasty, the rabbit had a high status, and it was one of the eight animal sacrifices offered to the ancestors when the Zhou people sacrificed to Miao. It was called "seeing clearly" in the Book of Rites Quli, and Kong said, "The rabbit is fat, so it can see clearly." The rabbit's eyes become bigger and clearer when it is fat. To sacrifice a rabbit, I'm afraid I just saw its big watery eyes.

Good luck. The ancients in China liked rabbits very much and regarded them as auspicious animals, which were recorded in ancient literature. For example, the Song Dynasty's Ruiying Map records: "Da Rui, a red rabbit, is a China white rabbit." . During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, due to the birth of Xiaobai, the holy driver was alarmed and went to the ancestral temple to pay homage. China people's yearning for a peaceful and beautiful life can be expressed by auspicious auspicious symbols represented by rabbits.

Eliminate disasters and exorcise evil spirits There was a custom of "hanging rabbit's head" during the Spring Festival in Song Dynasty. Every year on the first day of the first month, people hang rabbit heads made of flour, bamboo tubes filled with snow water, banners and masks at their doorways to ward off evil spirits. Therefore, driving away disasters is a very important skill of ancient rabbits, which should have a lot to do with the personification of "rabbit god"

Cultural heritage: painted male prostitutes. (Source: Beijing News)

Pray for many children. The ancients said, "The rabbit is the essence of the bright moon and is pregnant according to the moon." Therefore, the ancients also endowed rabbits with the function of "Moon God" in charge of reproduction, in order to have more children and more happiness. In addition, China also created the image of "Uncle Tu" in ancient times, which can be used to cure diseases. Every Mid-Autumn Festival, children will worship and pray for "male prostitutes". Now it's a children's toy. As for the story of Jade Rabbit and Chang 'e, I will talk about it later.

Edible health rabbits are full of treasures. Their fur can be made into clothes, brushes, meat and medicines. "The Book of Songs Xiao Ya Yu Zao" has: "There is a rabbit head, but the gun burns? There are many ways to eat. Rabbit meat is regarded as delicious and continues to this day. The protein content of rabbit meat is much higher than that of ordinary meat, and the content of fat and cholesterol is very low. But until now, there is still a folk saying that pregnant women who eat rabbit meat will have a baby with rabbit lips. In fact, this is really wrong for rabbits.

The twelve palaces of Yuanmingyuan. (Source: Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park WeChat official account)

Rabbit goes home first. Perhaps, many people don't know that rabbits have had a tortuous transnational journey. During the Qianlong period, red bronze was regarded as the animal head of the zodiac, and a stone human body was placed in Haiyan Hall of Yuanmingyuan. At different times of the day, the corresponding animal head spouts spring water to tell the time. Later, with the outbreak of the Second Opium War, the twelve animal heads were exiled abroad. Today, the whereabouts of several animal heads are still unknown. In 20 13, with the unremitting efforts of relevant parties, Pino family donated rabbit heads and rat heads to China for free. 100 years later, the rabbit head finally returned to its long-lost hometown.

Rabbit head among the twelve animal heads in Yuanmingyuan. (Source: official website, Pavilion W, China National Expo)

Proud "flying rabbit"

The "Jade Rabbit" accompanied by Chang 'e in the Moon Palace is probably the most familiar myth and legend. How did it get to the Moon Palace? What are you doing in the Moon Palace?

Moon love. The moon is the closest celestial body to the earth, and its influence on human beings is also very important. Compared with the "sun", the moon is called "lunar". The "moon" in the lunar calendar means that the moon has experienced a complete and short cycle, that is, 29.059 days. The alternation of day and night, the tides of the earth, etc. It's all related to the moon, which has a closer influence on us on the earth, and aroused the infinite reverie of René. China people made the lunar calendar 4000 years ago, recorded the lunar eclipse 3000 years ago, created the Jade Rabbit flying to the moon, and changed the "Moon God".

Tang bronze mirror. (Source: official website, National Museum of China)

It is recorded in ancient books that _ E took the elixir of the Western Queen and flew to the Moon Palace, which was called "the essence of the moon" and later called Chang 'e in the Han Dynasty. Yu Tu, the name of "Moon God" in the dialect of the ancient Chu State, should be the prototype of "Jade Rabbit". Before soaring, the rabbit was in charge of the work of smashing medicine beside the queen mother of the west. When she arrived at the Moon Palace, she continued to be responsible for making drugs. She also has the reputation of "Jade Rabbit", such as Jade Rabbit and Golden Rabbit, which is also synonymous with the moon. Since then, the rabbit has also become the "essence of the bright moon" and the "moon god" worshipped by everyone. The improvement of rabbit's status is also closely related to the elixir it makes. After all, who in the world doesn't want to live forever?

The Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon. (Source: Picture Worm Creativity)

Dreams come true. On February 2, 20 13, Chang 'e III and our Jade Rabbit 1 visited Guanghan Palace by Long March rocket (the name of Chang 'e III landing area was officially approved by the International Astronomical Union in 20 16), which opened a new chapter for China people to explore the Moon Palace.

Chang 'e III and Yutu 1.

20 19 65438+ 10 3, our "Chang 'e IV" landed firmly on the back of the moon, and "Yutu II" strolled leisurely in front of Chang 'e's sister, haha. Thanks to our hard-working scientists and heroic astronauts, they have fulfilled their dream of landing on the moon for thousands of years and opened a new starting point for the great journey of the Chinese nation.

Chang 'e IV and Yutu II.

In addition, because of the natural environment and other reasons, the types and ordering of zodiac signs in different parts of China may be different, but almost all of them are inseparable from lively and lovely rabbits; Many countries in East Asia and South Asia are also basically the same as China's zodiac; Some countries in West Asia and North Africa also have their own zodiac signs; It's not that there are no zodiac signs in the United States, and there are no rabbits in astrological "constellations".

Twelve constellations. (Source: Science and Technology Daily)

Rabbit is lively, smart, cautious, agile, kind and pure, so it is designated as one of the 12 Zodiac animals by us. In thousands of years of historical development, Mao Rabbit has witnessed the spirit and courage of the hardworking and brave people of China.

About the author:

Li Huidong, Ph.D., Archaeology and Museology, Shandong University, Associate Professor, School of History and Culture, Northwest University for Nationalities.

Producer | Yang Xinhua

Overall planning | Kang, Hu Jun and Liu Jia

Writing | Zhao Guangguo Zhang Ailong

Edit | Guo Hui

Production | Hu Qi

What is 20 13?

People born in 20 13 are snakes.

The snake, one of the zodiac signs, is the sixth place in the earthly branch. Snakes are sensitive and flexible, and most of them hide in the grass.

Four-year-old people are snakes, most of them are dragons in the north, and some are worms. People call the snake "Little Dragon" because the image of the dragon originated from its reputation as a sedan chair snake, not because some people say that calling the snake "Little Dragon" means "climbing the dragon and attaching the phoenix".

Folk custom about snakes

Jiān, a citizen of Han nationality, has the saying that "snakes shed their skin", which means it is unlucky to see snakes shed their skin. A folk proverb says, "When you see a snake skinning it, it won't die." Especially in spring, it is taboo. In Qinghai, if snakes are found at home, the most taboo is to kill them. People think that if a snake is killed, it will retaliate, which is not good for the family. So if you find a snake at home, catch it in a pot or pick it on a long pole, then send it to the valley and beg it to hide in a cave and never go back to someone else's house.

What year is heavenly stems and earthly branches 20 13?

20 13 year of the snake in heavenly stems and earthly branches is a zodiac sign.

Heavenly stems and earthly branches, also known as the year of trunk and branch, is composed of 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches, which are combined into 60 trunk and branch phrases to record historical years. It is used and fixed repeatedly. The first phrase is called Jia Zi, and then it is called E Yuan, Bing Yin and Ding Mao in the order of stem and branch. Finally, returning to the sea is the sixtieth issue, so it is also called Jiazi chronology. Qiuci ranks 30th in the group and comes out every 60 years.