Secondly, from the ancient concept that ghosts are afraid of peaches, peaches have the function of witchcraft to ward off evil spirits. "Jade stars are scattered into peaches", and the ancients thought that peaches were the embodiment of the stars in the sky. Shan Hai Jing Overseas West Jing said: "Kuafu drove away from Japan and entered Japan. If you want to drink water when you are thirsty, drink it in the river; He Wei is not enough, Ozawa is drunk in the north. Before he arrived, he died of thirst. Abandon his staff and turn it into Deng Lin. " "Deng Lin" is Taolin. Kuafu is a hero who chases the sun. Taolin is his walking stick and naturally has an air. The concept that ghosts are afraid of peaches was probably formed in the Zhou and Qin Dynasties. Wang Chong quoted the lost text of Shan Hai Jing in Lun Heng: "Shan Hai Jing also said that there are mountains in the sea. There is a big peach tree in the building, which twists and turns for three thousand miles. Its branches in the northeast are called the gate of hell, and ghosts from all walks of life come and go. There are two gods in the world, one is Shen Tu and the other is Lei Yu, who read and lead all ghosts. Evil spirits hold reed ropes and eat tigers. So the Yellow Emperor made a ceremony to drive time, set up a peach man, painted Shen Tu, Lei Yu and the tiger at the portal, and hung reeds to resist evil spirits. Tangible, so eat tigers. " There is a big peach tree in front of the death gate, which maintains the majesty of the death gate with Shen Tu and Lei Yu.
Ways to play the role of peach wood in exorcising evil spirits and suppressing ghosts;
1) peach board. Also known as "peach version", "peach symbol" and "peach symbol board", they are used in pairs. The image of the Shen Tu brothers (legendary exorcists) is painted on the board to suppress the evil soul. Of course, as we all know, it has gradually evolved into the present "Spring Festival couplets" and "couplets".
2) peach seal. Also known as the "Peach Seal", it is a button carved from peach wood and painted with red, blue and Huang San colors. Black and white, spells to ward off evil spirits, and perforated buttons. During the Dragon Boat Festival, you only need to tie the peach seal on the door or between the curtains with colorful ornaments to drive away evil spirits and ghosts.
3) Peach service. Ornament made of peach wood, melon-shaped, multi-edged, engraved with inscriptions, contains many words praying for soil disaster. The usage method is to wear it on the body in the first month of the summer calendar. According to History of Han Poetry, this custom was popular in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the later mahogany system was its legacy.
4) Ren Tao. Also known as "peach stalk" and "peach puppet", it is an aversion to victory carved with peach stalks. Shaped like a human figure, the size is arbitrary. The way to use it is to stand by the door on New Year's Eve in the summer calendar or ward off evil spirits in Zheng Dan.