The festivals in ancient China were quite romantic. For example, people often use "Lunar New Year's Eve" to describe beautiful scenery and good times, and "Lunar New Year" refers to the Mid-Autumn Festival, then "Flower Festival" refers to the Flower Festival.
The Flower Festival is actually a very famous traditional festival. On this day, people worship the flower gods, enjoy flowers, gather people for banquets and recite poems. Unfortunately, it gradually faded out of people's lives after the Qing Dynasty.
In the Tang Dynasty, the Flower Festival, as a formal statutory festival, fell on February 15th, and was called the "Half Moon Festival" together with the 15th of the first month and the 15th of August. If you look at the word "half moon" together, it's ok. After all, people in the Tang Dynasty also like it.
According to legend, during the Tianbao period of the Tang Dynasty, there was a Chu Shi named Cui Xuanwei in Luoyang, who was an out-and-out flower fan. There was a big garden on the outskirts of Luoyang, where famous flowers and plants were planted everywhere. On a February night, a group of beautiful women suddenly came to the garden. Cui Xuanwei gave a banquet to entertain them. Somehow, there was a bad blood during the dinner, which annoyed Aunt Feng, so other beautiful women wanted to ask Cui Chu Shi to rescue them and tell him how to rescue them. Cui Xuanwei obeyed the instructions and tore the colored silks into strips and tied them on the flower branches at 5: am on February 12. Sure enough, there was a strong wind that day. Fortunately, the flower buds in Cui Jiayuan's son were protected by colored silks, and none of them blew off. Cui Xuanwei realized that those beautiful women turned out to be hundred flowers fairies, and Aunt Feng was actually Aunt Feng. Later, hanging colorful flowers to protect flowers attracted people who love flowers to imitate each other and gradually became a custom. The colorful silks that protect flowers must be hung with flower branches at five o'clock in the morning, so it becomes a "flower dynasty". This story was first seen in Zhenyang County Records, and was later included in Taiping Guangji, which is considered to be the origin of the Flower Festival.
In fact, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, the Book of Tao Zhugong recorded the "Flower Dynasty": "February 12th is the birthday of a hundred flowers, and all flowers ripen without rain." Since Baihua has a birthday, it has its own "flower god" in charge of Baihua. Who is the flower god? According to Huainanzi, the flower god is a disciple of Mrs. Wei, a Taoist fairy in Nanyue, saying that she is good at gardening, managing the day and growing flowers. Then the Flower Festival will have a layer of meaning to welcome the flower god.
in the southern dynasties, the book "local customs" written by Zhou Chu, a Jin scholar, said: "It is a common saying in Zhejiang that spring is in the middle, and flowers are in full bloom, so it is time to travel and enjoy, and flowers are in the morning and evening." In the middle of the spring sequence is the fifteenth day of the second lunar month. Flower Festival has become a popular festival in the court.
China people are inseparable from flowers. In the works of literati, flowers represent a kind of spirit, and they can be friends and relatives. Tang people are crazy about flowers, endowing them with spirituality, and they are even more fond of flowers.
According to legend, Empress Wu Zetian is also addicted to flowers. During the Flower Festival, she ordered maids to collect flower cakes made of petals and rice and give them to ministers. In this way, eating flower cakes at the Flower Festival has become a custom and spread among the people.
Speaking of Wu Zetian and Baihua, there is also a story among the people that the Queen ordered a hundred flowers to blossom. One winter, Wu Zetian saw that only plum blossoms were in bloom in the garden, which was quite boring. Then she wrote four poems: "I swam to the garden in the Ming Dynasty and quickly reported the spring knowledge. Flowers must be released overnight, so don't wait for the breeze. " The maid-in-waiting was ordered to burn immediately and the flower god knew it. The next day, the flowers in the garden were in violation of the season and opened in order.
This legend was later written by Li Ruzhen in the Qing Dynasty into "Flowers in the Mirror". The fourth time, "Singing Snow Poems, Warming the Pavilion, Gambling on Wine, Drunk the Pen and Going to the Garden to Urge Flowers" told this story, saying that the Flowers Fairy happened to be on a trip that day, and the flowers were leaderless and did not dare to offend Wu Zetian, so they had to open one after another, so they broke the dogma and were demoted to earth.
However, the fifth time in the book is even more interesting. It is said that all flowers are in full bloom under the authority of the Queen, and only the peony flower is in bud. The Queen is furious and thinks that peony is the most affectionate in her life, and peony has such a negative grace, so she banishes it to Luoyang. "Therefore, only Luoyang is the most prosperous peony in the world."
This story is only the artistic creation of the novelist. In the real history of Wu Huang, it was not the pressure of the goddess of flowers, but the fact that the queen's men burned charcoal fire overnight to change the temperature difference and made the flowers open early. The Tang Dynasty was in the warm season in the history of China, and the palace was irrigated by hot spring water. It is easy to change the flowering season. Wu Zetian ordered the flowers to open in violation of the seasonal opening, which only showed the majesty of her imperial power and seemed to have nothing to do with loving flowers and protecting them. In folklore, Wu Zetian ascended the throne, which delayed the rain of the Dragon King, or made the flowers open early. It can be seen that her position in the hearts of China people is like a demigod.
But it is true that Wu Zetian loves peonies best. In the past, there was a saying that there was no peony in the world, peony was grafted from peony, and Wu Zetian was the one who decided peony. In the Tang Dynasty, the court loved exotic flowers and plants. Apart from Wu Zetian, Tang Muzong was also a "flower addict" and wanted to sleep among flowers every day. If any minister is rewarded with exotic flowers, he will carefully take them home and offer them.
In the court, folk love and protection of flowers became a trend, so the flower market in the Tang Dynasty was extremely prosperous. At that time, the flower market had become large. It has become a custom to buy flowers, enjoy flowers and hairpin flowers. Those exotic flowers and plants, or exotic rare fruits and exotic trees, all became luxuries in the Tang Dynasty.
So people in the Tang Dynasty also had vanity and wanted to "show off their wealth". Unfortunately, there was no WeChat in Weibo at that time, and the Gaomen Courtyard could not be opened to outsiders casually. What should we do?
I have to mention Yang Guozhong, who climbed to the top by nepotism. He is so good at playing. "Ten Legacies of Kaiyuan Tianbao" and "Moving Spring Threshold" record: Every spring comes, Yang Guozhong's children ask for famous flowers and different trees to be planted in the threshold, with the board as the bottom and the wood as the wheel, so that people can lead them to rotate. Wherever you go, the threshold is at present, so you can watch it, and the purpose is to move the threshold of spring. This is estimated to be the first float with huge investment in the history of China. At that time, before and after the Flower Festival, this float was full of famous flowers and rare trees and wandered around Chang 'an, showing the Yang family's wealth. Yang Guozhong was the originator of showing off the rich.
the flower market in Chang' an is also recorded in "The Legacy of Kaiyuan Tianbao", saying: "Chang' an ladies fight for flowers in spring, and those who wear flowers with many exotic flowers win, and all of them use famous flowers from Qianjin City to plant in the court garden to borrow them in spring." The most famous flower market at that time was probably the Peony Flower Market in Chang 'an. Calculating the price mainly depends on the number of flowers, "burning a hundred flowers, pressing five bundles of elements". In addition to the quantity, it is also divided into high and low according to the color, that is, the Tang Dynasty poet Laihu wrote, "The price of purple and red buds is different, and the streets are listed with fragrant winds." If the literati didn't exaggerate, at that time, a cluster of elegant flowers could cover the taxes of ten middle-class families, and most people simply couldn't afford it.
Xiao Jia Jasper went to the flower market to buy flowers, and all the ladies were waiting for the express delivery. In spring, women go to the streets to enjoy flowers and keep up with the joneses, putting on a buyer show and a seller show. This girl is wearing a Wei Zi today, but that lady has the nickname "Yao Huang". "A woman who has been compared may go back and tell her maid bitterly that a family in the east of the city has won the" Er Qiao ",why didn't I? Or, the flowers were delivered late today, and they are much weaker than those of other families. This is not bad, bad reviews!
? For women, when the flowers arrive, they can eat flower cakes and wear hairpin flowers to their heart's content. The Flower Festival is an elegant festival for men.
It has been recorded in the Supplement to Tang Literature that: "On the lunar new year's eve, silk and bamboo accompany each other to pursue happiness, hold a big feast to entertain guests, and often go to weddings."
? Ancient literati gathered together, or drank wine, or asked for elegant words, or lived in popular music, which was enjoyable. In Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, there is a "Orchid Pavilion Meeting", which leaves a story of meandering water (this will be pulled until the last festival).
In the Tang Dynasty, Xue Yongwei's Collection of Different Stories also left a story of a poet's gathering.
? It is said that three famous poets in Tang Dynasty, Wang Zhihuan, Wang Changling and Gao Shi, had a party in a restaurant when they were studying in Luoyang, the eastern capital. At that time, they were all famous for their poems, but their luck was bad and their careers were difficult. While the three of them were chatting happily, suddenly a pear garden official led more than a dozen singers upstairs. They quickly hid in a corner and listened to them sing. Wang Changling said to the other two people, "We are all famous in the world at least, but we have never been neck and neck. Listen to their songs today, and whoever sings more poems is the best. " The other two agreed.
I just heard the first singer sing: "Cold rain enters Wu at night even in the river, and it's plain and clear to see off the guests in Chu Mountain. If relatives and friends in Luoyang ask each other, a piece of ice heart is in the jade pot. " Wang Changling drew a line on the wall with his finger: "One of my quatrains." Then a singer sang: "I opened my eyes with tears and saw your book the day before yesterday." Why is the night platform lonely? It is still a cloud house. " Gao Shi also drew a line on the wall: "One of my quatrains." Another singer appeared: "The broom opens the golden palace, forcing the round fan to wander.". Jade is not as beautiful as Western jackdaw's, but she still brings the shadow of Zhaoyang. " Wang Changling stretched out his hand and painted the wall again and said, "Two quatrains."
At this time, Wang Zhihuan, who was on the side, felt a little embarrassed, and said to the two people around him, "These people in front are all unknown, and they are all singing songs that the people in Lower Liba listen to." Pointing to the most beautiful and outstanding singer, he said, "When this girl sings later, if it is not my poem, I won't argue with you in my life. But if you sing my poems, you must all worship me as a master. " The three men then agreed.
After a while, the most beautiful girl began to sing. She sang, "The Yellow River is far away among the white clouds, and Wan Ren Mountain is a lonely city. Why should the flute blame the willows, and the spring breeze will not pass Yumenguan. " Wang Zhihuan was so proud that he said to Wang Changling and Gao Shi, "What do you think? You two are from the village. Am I right? (Tian She slave! Am I being ridiculous? ) "Say that finish three people burst out laughing.
This story is called "Flag Pavilion Painting the Wall", which is a short story about three poets getting together. In the Tang Dynasty, the banquet of the tall literati was the "apricot garden flower-exploring banquet".
The "Apricot Garden" is an important entertainment place in the Tang Dynasty, which is famous for planting apricot trees everywhere. According to textual research, the imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty were released just before Shangsi (the third day of the third lunar month), which was almost after the Flower Festival. At that time, it was the time when "the red flowers were blooming and the snowflakes were numerous, and the overlapping heights were full of small gardens". In the same year, the Jinshi and the scholars will meet in the apricot garden, which is called "Flower Exploration Banquet". This is a high-standard banquet. Besides to be no.1, some senior intellectuals from the DPRK and even the emperor will attend. The most interesting thing is that at the party, everyone will choose two "small fresh meats" from the guests present and ride horses all over the famous flower gardens in the city to explore and enjoy the flowers. If someone picks the famous flowers first, they will be fined when they come back. At this time, we have to talk about a person who is famous for his "Flower Exploration Banquet". By the way, it is Meng Jiao who "enjoys the horseshoe disease in the spring breeze and sees all the flowers in Chang 'an in one day". Someone once criticized his poem, saying that "horseshoe disease" has seen all the flowers in Chang' an, but it is not just a cursory tour, so how can it be appreciated? And Meng Jiao at that time is the exam and, the spring breeze, the poem is written by him riding a horse at a flower-exploring banquet. It is conceivable that at that time, Meng Jiao, as a "flower-spotter", must have been handsome, riding in Chang 'an, and I don't know how many fans he attracted. Later, people called the third place of later scholars "exploring flowers", which is from this allusion.
When the apricot blossoms are first in bloom, it is a big custom for the literati to gather at the Flower Festival after the apricot blossom garden feast, when they hold a wine feast, and the literati sing together and cross horses to find flowers.
In the Song Dynasty, people's enthusiasm for flowers increased, and the Flower Festival became more lively.
since the song dynasty, the hairpin flower is not only a patent for women, but also a preference for men. Zhou Bangyan's "Rose" says: "The remnant of English is small, but it is strong. In the end, it's not like a flower. The hairpin's head is shaking and leaning to people. " Well, he also knows that it's not as beautiful as a lady's hairpin, but it's still strong on the headscarf. It can be seen that men's hairpin flowers have become a habit in the Song Dynasty. However, men's hairpin flowers are also limited to the literati. In the imagination, the literati in the Song Dynasty who wore hairpin flowers should all be elegant and handsome, well proportioned, and there is no problem with their face value. If they are replaced by likui jy, a black whirlwind, or Wu Da, who sells biscuits, the picture is too beautiful for me to watch.
In some places in the Song Dynasty, the flower dynasty was advanced to February 12th, or the second day of February. Compared with the Tang Dynasty, people in the Song Dynasty were eager for spring. Because of the different flowering seasons in different places, the flower festival in the north is still in February, while the flower festival in the south is held on February 12. Like the Tang Dynasty, people spend the Flower Festival with many new contents, such as "butterfly-catching party" and "lantern festival", in addition to hiking, enjoying flowers, riding horses and partying.
In addition, the Song Dynasty continued the habit of buying exotic flowers and herbs from overseas, and more gardens were built for viewing and appreciating flowers. Every flower dynasty, the emperor and ministers will enjoy it together. Song Huizong, the versatile senior intellectual leader, once wrote a poem describing the scene of enjoying flowers. "Fang Yi Cui calyx, Huan rotten in a court. Zero dew is drunk, and the sunset glow seems to melt. It is difficult for Dan Qing to write, and nature alone keeps the merits. Dancing butterflies is fascinated by the fragrant path and chasing the evening breeze. "
compared with the palace, it has become a common practice for people to collect exotic flowers and herbs.
There is a story in "Eight Dragons" that Duan Yu mistakenly entered the Mentor Villa of Mrs. Wang, the mother of Wang Yuyan. Mrs. Wang loves camellias very much, and has shipped a lot from Dali to her villa. It's a pity that she doesn't know much about the varieties of camellia, and what she likes is also ridiculed by Duan Yu. But even so, for the "treasures", she not only built a guardrail with Hetian jade, but also buried the living as flower fertilizer under the tea tree. When it was discovered that Duan Yu knew Camellia, Mrs. Wang broke the rules and asked him to stay in the mansion.
Although Jin Yong's novels are not history, we can still find some clues of history. If we dig deeply, we will find them very interesting. For example, in the paragraph mentioned above, where is Mantuo Villa? Anyone who has read the book knows that Duan Yu was kidnapped by Jiu Mozhi to find Mu Rongfu, Mu Rongfu lived in Yanziwu, which was in Suzhou, so Mu Rongfu was also called "Mr. Murong in Gusu", and Namanto Villa was also in Suzhou. Thanks to the continuous efforts of Duan Yu, Mrs. Wang and their descendants, by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Suzhou was already the largest camellia production and planting base in China, and more than half of the residents were camellia growers. Therefore, the flower farmers in Suzhou must sacrifice to Camellia every February 12th. In Daoguang period of Qing Dynasty, the Flower Temple was also built in Huqiu area. The significance of the Flower Festival has changed from the original outing to enjoying flowers, to a festival in which flower farmers offer sacrifices and pray for the prosperity of camellia in the coming year.
In addition, when it comes to the Flower Dynasty, I have to talk about the book A Dream of Red Mansions, because the Flower Festival happens to be Lin Daiyu's birthday. In the sixty-second chapter of the book, when Baoyu celebrated his birthday, everyone learned from the raiding population that Daiyu's birthday was on February 12. When Tso Gong was writing a Dream of Red Mansions, he liked to connect the characters with some coincidences. For example, xiren knew that Daiyu's birthday was on February 12th, because it was also her birthday, and it happened that her surname was Hua. Although Qingwen is not the birthday of Huachao, she looks like Lin Daiyu, and she is as affectionate as Lin's sister. Xue Baochai and Jia Mu are the same Amanome, but the verdict that Jia Baoyu saw in the dreamland was that Baochai and Daiyu were together. If a man meets one of these four women in his life, most of them can have a charming feeling, but if he meets four at once like Jia Baoyu, the test between the choices is the man's own mind.
Read A Dream of Red Mansions carefully and you will find many interesting things. calendar