In ancient China, engagement was an important social etiquette for men and women to determine their marriage relationship, second only to formal marriage. The betrothal follows "parents' orders, matchmakers' words", while adolescent boys and girls often use keepsakes to betrothal; Due to the ethical code and social pressure, the exchange of tokens of love is generally carried out privately between men and women, and others have no way of knowing it.
Ancient token of love included bracelets, arm-wrapped gold, rings, earrings and sachets. , or some small items handed down from the family, some carefully selected souvenirs, etc. No matter what token it is, whether it is valuable or not, it always has a certain origin or special relationship with itself, and its spiritual significance can never be measured by whether the item is valuable or not. Giving a token is like giving your wish, indicating that you will never change your mind.
1, bracelet
-What's the big deal? Double jump around the wrist.
Bracelets have a long history and originated from the transition from matriarchal society to paternal society. Archaeologists found bracelet rings used to decorate wrists in ancient times, such as pottery rings and stone bracelets, at Banpo site about 6,000 years ago and the Neolithic site of Xiahou in Qufu, Shandong Province. Judging from the unearthed bracelets, there are animal bones, teeth, stones, pottery and so on. The shape of the bracelet is tubular and round, and there are also two semicircular rings that are divided into two parts.
From Sui and Tang Dynasties to Song Dynasty, it was very common for women to decorate their arms with bracelets, which were called necessary armbands. In the early Tang Dynasty, the painter Yan's "Walking Map" and "The Picture of Zanhua Ladies" clearly described the image of women wearing armbands. This is not limited to the court nobles, but also the common people. According to historical records, Cui Guangyuan led troops to crusade against Duan Zhangzhang, and soldiers plundered everywhere. When you see a woman, cut off your arm and take the armband. It can be seen that there were many women wearing armbands at that time.
After the Tang and Song Dynasties, the materials and manufacturing techniques of bracelets have been highly developed, including gold and silver bracelets, jade bracelets and precious bracelets. Shapes are ring-shaped, beaded, twisted, braided and bamboo-shaped. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties and even the Republic of China, bracelets inlaid with precious stones in gold prevailed. The design and modeling of jewelry and the production of technology have made great progress.
Although bracelets are regarded as decorations of arms and the earliest hazy consciousness of loving beauty, many scientists believe that the initial appearance of bracelets is not entirely from loving beauty, but related to totem worship and witchcraft etiquette. At the same time, some historians believe that because men occupy an absolute dominant position in economic life, rings, bracelets and other accessories have a barbaric custom that metaphorically binds women and prevents them from escaping. This metaphor has existed for quite a long time.
2, arm wrapped in gold
-Why are you boxing? The double gold ring on Wan's arm.
Early armbands mostly appeared in the northern region, and gold and silver bars were generally hammered flat and coiled into spiral rings. The number of circles varies from three to five or eight, and there are differences between flowers and plain ones: those with patterns are called "flower cymbals" and those without patterns are called "plain cymbals". No matter which angle you look at, you can see several rings, just like wearing several bracelets. The shape of the word "Shu" comes from "Jin" and "Chuan", which is pictographic.
Step 3 ring
-What is politeness? About a pair of silver.
In ancient times, unmarried women didn't wear rings, because the ring was a token of engagement or betrothal, so this smallest token was the heaviest in women's hearts, and it is the same today. Reach out and let the opposite person put it on yourself. Then, either wear it happily for a lifetime or cry for it until your heart breaks sooner or later.
According to Taiping Guangji, scholar Li Zhangwu fell in love with Wang's son-in-law in Huazhou. When leaving, Wang's son-in-law gave Li Zhangwu a white jade ring and a poem: "Twist the ring and miss each other." May you play forever and endlessly. Later, Li Zhangwu went to Huazhou again, and Wang's son-in-law was anxious, so they met at Wang's house.
Friends of Yunxi wrote that Wei Gao fell in love with Xiao Yu. When leaving, Wei Gao gave Xiao Yu a jade ring and vowed to marry Xiao Yu five to seven years later. But later Wei Gao failed to break the contract, and Xiao Yu died of hunger strike. Later, Wei Gao gave up our time. After he knew this, he regretted it, so he "extensively repaired the Buddha statue" to atone for his sins. Finally, Xiao Yu gave birth to a singer and returned to Wei Gao's side to continue his lifelong love.
4. Earrings
-Why is it so trivial? Two pearls on the ear.
Women in our country have been dressing themselves up with various earrings since a long time ago. The earliest record can be found in Shan Hai Jing: "A mountain suitable for youth and a mountain suitable for women, with a small waist and white teeth." In the "Three Kingdoms", Zhuge Ke said: "It's not bad to be alert and bright, and pearls penetrate." You can see the fashion of piercing ears since three generations. Earrings are divided into earrings, ear hooks, earrings, earrings and other styles. In the early Qing Dynasty, Li Daiweng wrote in his "Essays"
In Rong Sheng, the small and simple earrings are called "cloves" and the complex and gorgeous earrings are called "winding ropes". He said that a woman's "one hairpin and one ear can accompany her all her life", which shows that earrings have a very important position in ancient aesthetic concepts.
In the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Ji's "Ode to a Daughter" "Return the tears of the pearl, never get married and never encounter hatred." The "pearl" in the movie refers to earrings. Is it also because this poem makes people feel sad to take earrings as tokens? At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhang Huilian's Zhuzhici, which mourned her late husband, must have been written by a thoughtful person: "Remember to buy concubines with pearls, comb my hair and insert my eyebrows. Where is Lang today? I am alone, afraid to see butterflies flying among the flowers. "
After the trouble of Jingkang, Song Huizong sent Cao Xun, an official, to flee to the Southern Song Dynasty, so that Zhao Gou, the son of the later emperor, would arise and rescue him. Cao Xun brought back many personal belongings of Zhao Gou, including an earring of Zhao Gou's wife. Kang Wang and King Kang love each other deeply, and this earring may inspire Zhao Gou to save their relatives in trouble. However, with the great changes in his motherland, half of the rivers and mountains can not be recovered, let alone a "disgraceful" wife.
5, sachet
Why are you knocking? The sachet is tied behind the elbow.
Sachet has a long history. In ancient times, it was also called sachet, fragrant tassel, sachet, fragrant ball, Pei Wei and purse. The history of ancient people wearing sachets can be traced back to the pre-Qin period. According to the Book of Rites. Internal rules ":"Children are parents and use them around; ..... to suit my parents and aunt. " In other words, when young people meet their parents and elders, they should wear "tassels", that is, woven sachets, to show their respect. Because sachets are personal items, lovers often give them to each other as gifts to express their love.
When the Anshi Rebellion broke out, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty took Yang Guifei and his party to the west in a panic, but the Sixth Army of Maweipo did not send it. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty sacrificed Yang Guifei's life, leaving her alone to bear the responsibility of triggering a national war. After Yang Guifei was strangled, her body was hastily buried on the spot. After the recovery of Xijing, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty sent someone to quietly move and bury her body. The eunuch found that only the bones of the imperial concubine were left, and only the sachet worn on her chest was intact when she died. He took it down and called me back. Tang Xuanzong, who is old, saw the sachet and thought of people. At that time, the joy of singing and dancing in Lishan was everywhere, and the deep affection of Iraqis only left this sachet in front of him! He put the sachet in his sleeve and burst into tears. Eighty years later, the poet Zhang Hu lamented this incident and wrote a poem "The True Sack": "The little flower sac of the golden concubines consumes the old fragrance on her chest. Who is reunited for the king after a long separation, lifelong resentment is the heart.
No one can untie this small sachet for Xuanzong, and it is not clear whether it is love or hate. Who can untie it except Yuhuan?
Jin Shu
Wu Jiachuan records the story of Jia Chong's youngest daughter Wu Jia falling in love with her father Jia Chong's assistant Han Shou. During the tryst, Wu Jia gave each other western spices. Unexpectedly, Han Shou's fragrance was detected by Jia Chong in court. After he guessed the reason, he didn't blame his daughter, but let her marry Han Shou, which made a long story. The fragrance of the Western Regions should be presented by Wu Jia with his own sachet, so as not to damage this precious gift and the affection of his daughter's family.
In a Dream of Red Mansions, Sister Lin also made a sachet for Brother Bao, and every stitch and thread condensed her feelings. Once I wrote that Daiyu misunderstood that Baoyu had given the sachet to someone else. In a rage, I cut the other one I was making, but Baoyu wore it. How can she give it away? Youth is gone, and the red rain is gone. I still see Iraqis when I see the fragrant bag, but I'm afraid Baoyu can't bear to see it again.
6. Yu Pei
-How can I be grateful? Meiyu adorns Luo Ying.
The ancients loved jade, and the old saying goes, "A gentleman never leaves his hand without a reason." The explanation in "Notes on Ancient Poetry" says: "Decorate tassels with jade to show gratitude."
"Ying Luo" is a colorful ribbon tied around the waist when an ancient woman got married to show her belonging. Make "knot" synonymous with ancient marriage. According to the Book of Songs, when a daughter gets married, she is "ninety years old."
The mother reluctantly tied a tassel to her daughter and whispered something to her.
7, concentric knot
-What's the point? Double needle plain silk.
According to The Source of Poetry, Zhou Wen fell in love with his neighbor's wife, Jiang, and gave Jiang a crystal needle as a token. Chiang opened the shoe box, took the sewing thread, and knitted a concentric knot back to Zhou Wen. Plain wisps represent purity, while needles are homophonic with chastity.
Weave the ribbon into a string of palindrome-like concentric knots for each other, which also contains endless thoughts and thousands of feelings. In the poems of Liang Wudi and Xiao Yan, there is "double belt around the waist, and dreams are concentric knots". In the Song Dynasty, Lin Bu wrote the poem "You are full of tears, my concubine is full of tears, my heart is not finished, and the river is flat".
Tell the truth, the so-called "the sky is not old, the feelings are hard to beat, the heart is like a double screen, and there is a Qian Qian knot inside." The Chinese character "Jie" is like a net of "Don't give up your heart, tie it with your feelings", but this net can't cover all the stories of crazy children who witnessed the trauma in the world.
8. boom
-Why? Scratch your head with a thin gold painting.
Hairpin, a long needle used by the ancients to fix the bun or connect the crown hair, later specifically refers to the jewelry for women to insert the bun. "Biography of Historical Records and Funny Stories" said: "There was a fall before, and then there was a hairpin". And "I stroke my white hair. It has grown too thin, and it can no longer hold hairpins.
The ethnic minorities in China have the traditional custom of fixing their hair with hairpins. Their hairpins are various, with a long history, rich national characteristics and rich cultural connotations.
Selected from: 365 hownet
The Tang, Song and later generations were a thrilling and prosperous time. Many women in Dunhuang frescoes in the Tang Dynasty are covered with flowers and needles. There are also many images of women with hairpins in Tang Dynasty paintings. "History of Song Dynasty" records: "Folk women who were married to Yuanjia for six years in Song Dynasty ... wore flowers, combs and other decorations on their heads". According to Lu You's Shu Guo Ji in Song Dynasty, the headdress of women in Southwest China at that time was "six silver hairpin, another big ivory comb, as big as a hand".
The styles of hairpins in Ming and Qing dynasties are very rich, and the main changes are mostly concentrated in the head of hairpins. It has a variety of shapes, and also likes to use flowers, birds, fish, insects, birds and animals as the first shape of the hairpin. Common flower varieties include plum blossom, lotus flower, chrysanthemum flower, peach blossom, peony flower and hibiscus flower.
It is often the first choice for men to give their favorite women, and women often give their lovers as tokens of love. Many sad love stories happen because of a hairpin. Nowadays, popular hairpins almost completely copy the appearance and materials of ancient hairpins, and expensive raw materials such as gold and silver are still women's favorite.
9. Dan
-What is comfort? Tortoise shell behind the ear.
Hairpins are flowers or other styling hairpins made of pearls, jade, gold and silver. Two or more long hairpins are used to connect and fix the bun, which is inserted into the temples when in use.
Hairpin is not only an ornament, but also a symbol of love. In ancient times, there was a custom of saying goodbye between lovers: women divided their hair clips into two parts, half for each other and the other half for themselves until they met again another day. In Xin Qiji's "Late Spring in Zhu Yingtai", the words "Baochai Powder, Taoyedu, Ada Dark Nanpu" express this parting. In Nalan Xingde's words, "Baochai is obsessed with it, why should she be wet?" is also full of the pain of separation from her love.
10, skirt
-Why did you answer Huan Xin? Su Wan has three skirts.
Ancient silk was called Jiangsu and Anhui, and skirts evolved from "petticoats". In ancient times, the width of cloth and silk was narrow, and a skirt was generally made up of several pieces of cloth and silk, hence the name "skirt". In ancient times, the words "skirt" and "group" were homologous. Han Liuxi's Interpretation of Names and Clothes: Skirts, Groups and Groups. Han Xin's poem "Lin Yulang": "Long skirt with tie, wide sleeve with acacia."
"Thinking in succession, looked at zhu gaunt and fragmented. If you don't believe me, you will shed tears. The most touching thing about the skirt is Wu Zetian's "Ruyi Qu". Who did she write this poem for? Tired as a world of mortals, tired as a vast sea of people, even though women in the world are full of heroic spirits and dry as Wu Zetian watching osmanthus trees in the moonlight, they still haven't escaped the long thoughts every night. ...
1 1, red beans
Take a hug home for me as a symbol of our love.
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Red bean trees grow in the south, and they will grow many branches in spring. Take them home for me as a symbol of our love!
According to legend, in ancient times, there was a man who went out to war, and his wife prayed day and night against a high mountain tree. I cry under the tree because I miss my lover. After the tears dried up, bright red blood drops flowed out, and the blood drops became red beans, which took root and sprouted, and grew into a big tree full of red beans, which people called acacia beans. Day after day, spring came to Qiu Lai, and the fruit of the big tree gradually became the most beautiful red heart-shaped seed on the earth-acacia bean, with the yearning in the girl's heart.
12, comb
-hair and hair are concentric, and the comb is a gift.
Hair and hair are concentric, and the comb is a gift. In ancient China, sending a comb meant private life, hoping to grow old with you. Sending a comb represents a lifelong entanglement, that is, tying your hair and ordering it privately for life. In ancient times, women had their hair combed by their families before they got married. The so-called "one comb to the end, two combs with white hair and Qi Mei, three combs with children and grandchildren" not only contains the good wishes of family members, but also conveys love. So many places have the custom of sending combs on Tanabata.
There are several ways to send combs:
1. Comb stands for Acacia, for missing and caring!
2. Combing your hair every day also means getting close and growing old together!
3. Comb also represents love, which generally means making love in ancient times!
4. Combs also represent health and happiness! Sweep away troubles, open your heart and comb your hair will give people spirit and confidence!
There is also a saying that combs can't send friends, which means breaking up. If you send a lover, you will grow old together!
13，Ropa
-Hold Ropa in your hand and smile.
In ancient times, Roppa was used to convey feelings. There were many scenes in which a woman faced her sweetheart, blushed and frowned, and her hands were at a loss, so she sent a handkerchief to her hand. A little helpless, a little shy, a little happy, which makes people feel pity.
There is a saying in an ancient book, "There is a woman with a handkerchief in her hand and a clever smile." I miss that woman, standing among flowers, making eyes at her through the corner of my handkerchief. It can not only cover up the embarrassment of showing teeth, but also add a little charm. When it turns around, it can still giggle and throw an "idiot" at the man who has lost his mind. All kinds of amorous feelings are in it, which evokes the feelings of others, that is, leads to another eternal story or farewell. Why not?
14, pepper
-Direct. Many children.
Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a kind of spice crop. Because of its many seeds, it means "many children and grandchildren" after marriage, so men and women regard Zanthoxylum bungeanum as the custom of love. In The East Gate of the Book of Songs, it tells the story of a man who received a bunch of pepper from a girl as a token of love at the dance. When they promised to have more children in the future, the ancients were actually very straightforward in love.
15, melon and fruit
-Give me the papaya and give it back to Joan.
"The Book of Songs Feng Wei Papaya" "Vote for me with papaya, and repay me with Qiongju. Not to thank you, always cherish your feelings. ..... "It's about a man who got a drop of papaya, peach and plum from his beloved woman and decided to return all kinds of jade to express his wish to be United forever. In ancient times, "men hunted women", so "fruits and vegetables belonged to women". When a woman wants to express her love to her sweetheart, she usually sends melons and fruits.
16, half the things in the world.
-Dog blood story.
In costume TV, Yu Pei and other objects are often broken in half, and each person takes a piece to make a bridge. This is also a common way of making love in ancient times. Also, open the rouge box, give the lid to your lover, split the mirror in two, or split the hairpin in two. The traffic was inconvenient in ancient times. It took many years to go to Beijing to catch the exam or travel far. Things are different when I come back, so this kind of engagement object is often evidence of finding a child to recognize relatives.
17, concentric lock
-Always stick together.
I remember a legend: a long time ago, a kind girl and a loyal young man fell in love; However, the merchant's father didn't want his daughter to live in poverty, so he promised to marry her to an official. When the wedding day came, epigenetic bravely snatched the bride and fled to the mountains. Before the interception, after the pursuers, they jumped off the mountain arm in arm, and when future generations looked for them, they only found two stone locks locked together.
This is a beautiful fable, a sincere wish and an eternal promise. Concentric lock is to carve the names of two lovers on a lock, lock them on a chain surrounded by Buddha, and "lock" their hearts tightly together, so that their love will last forever. As long as they are sincere to each other, the Buddha will witness and bless their eternal feelings. Love can be speechless! Silently, I have poured my love into the concentric lock and locked it, hoping never to open it. As long as love exists, I can enjoy a sunny and rainy life.
18, ruyi
-All the best, the emperor's choice.
Many places in the ancient court will put wishful thinking for the emperors to enjoy. In addition, ruyi is also a token. The emperor chooses concubines, and the emperor takes wishful thinking and awards it to the woman he likes. Ruyi is still a noble gift in the palace. Whenever the emperor ascended the throne, the queen's birthday and other festive days, princes and ministers should offer their blessings to the queen.
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19, hair
-I send a wisp of hair with me, and my body will always be like silk. .
Women's hair carries too much emotion. Clouds, crows, rain and wind ... there are too many beautiful words. In the earliest Book of Songs, "I am from the east of Bo, and my head is like a flying canopy. If there is no ointment, who is suitable for it? " , messy hair, that is the yearning for a long-distance lover; In Han Yuefu's Lin Yulang, "there is nothing good about both things." . One is 5 million, and the other is more than 10 million.
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Describe the ultimate beauty of Hu Ji; In Yu Xin's Poems of Spring Dawn, it is even more "Who has the heart to arrange flowers for the mirror?" The beauty of writing hair accessories makes this woman can't even arrange flowers; What kind of amorous feelings are there in Su Shi's Song of the Cave Fairy: "Embroidered curtains open, a little bright moon peeps at people, people are awake, and their pillows are chaotic"; Sima Guang said that "the bun is loose and the pencil is light in makeup", which once made me admire the calm and elegant beauty. As for "bride with white hair", the girl's white hair, which was trapped by love all night, is the woman's emotional injury and has touched many people.
The word "green" and "emotion", "silk", "thinking" and "green silk" are all related to entanglement. After being expelled from the palace for the second time by Emperor Tang Ming, Yang Guifei said to the eunuch who delivered the letter, "My sin is to die together, except for my clothes, which are all given by heaven. Only the skin is born by parents. I can't thank you for dying immediately today. " Then he twisted a strand of hair together and asked the eunuch to give it to Tang. After seeing this, Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty was heartbroken, and the result was naturally reconciliation. In the future separated by life and death, in a thunderstorm, her Saburo sat in a broken dragon chair, took out the hair she gave many years ago and put it on her chest, crying. Above, he looked for the green void, below, in the yellow spring, the two places finally met.
A strand of hair is sent with me, and my body is as long as silk. Pavilion farewell, Yingying gave Zhang Sheng a strand of hair as his private collection. Although in the interpretation of later generations, they finally became a family, but at first, it was not like this, was it? Moss is enchanting, but it still haunts the hearts of old friends. Men are ungrateful and women are hurt. He spoke contemptuously of the "stunner", and his abandonment seemed to be misguided. Many years later, when I passed by, I remembered the woman's smile and asked for an audience as a cousin. She replied with a poem, "Where is it now?" At that time, it was opposite to self; I will also pity the people in front of me. "
People use all kinds of tokens to witness their love, and each token is given an unshakable belief in love. Some of the keepsakes mentioned in the article are far away from our lives today, and some are still passed on between people who love each other until now.
Attached are the top ten tokens of love in ancient China: 1, wife style-hairpin; 2. The love of a gentleman-Yu Pei; 3, the fragrance is pleasant-sachet; 4, straightforward-pepper; 5, gentle and virtuous-melons and fruits; 6. Parents-hair; 7, dog blood story-half of the things; 8, tangled and lingering-concentric knot; 9. Dedicated to the gods-bracelets; 10, the emperor's choice-jade ruyi.