The five colors of the five-color silk represent the five elements. In the Han Dynasty, they believed in the theory of five elements of yin and yang, and the five colors represented five directions, which had the mysterious function of exorcising evil spirits and welcoming good luck.
Blue is wood, representing the East, red is fire, representing the South, yellow is earth, representing the Central Committee, white is gold, representing the West, and black is water, representing the North.
Animals are symbols, with Qinglong in the east, Suzaku in the south, White Tiger in the west, Xuanwu (tortoise and snake) in the north and Huanglong in the middle, all of which are spiritual objects. The symbolic significance of five-color silk to ward off evil spirits and plagues is far more obvious than the actual function, because there is no specific explanation why these colors can eliminate disasters and diseases.
It can be seen that this is a magical thing with magic and symbolic significance in folk beliefs, which is obviously different from the medical functions used by mugwort, calamus and realgar in festivals, purely for the needs of folk beliefs and good luck. On the other hand, however, the five-color silk of the festival fully shows the significance of congratulations.
Children tie their necks, hands, feet and wrists with colored silk, commonly known as long-life rope, long-life rope, century-old rope and health rope.
Extended data
The significance of wearing red rope
The girl prayed for a beautiful marriage.
In the tradition of China, Yue Lao always uses a red line to tie the marriage between men and women, so it goes without saying that women wear red lines alone to pray for the arrival of marriage. In the past, in order to pray for a beautiful marriage, older women to be married would go to Yuelao Temple to ask for it and take it with them.
Wearing a red line can also mean waiting for marriage and courtship, meaning "unmarried woman". Another way of saying it is that if a girl wears it on her right foot, she is also expecting the performance of true love, that is, she is waiting for the lover who will accompany her all her life to appear.
Marriage/vows between men and women.
Tradition emphasizes implicit beauty, and lovers' love is often implied as fate. This thing that entrusts fate is of course the legendary red line. There is such an old man in the myth that everyone will tie a red line on his little finger when he is born, and the other end is the person who is destined to marry him in this life.
As the saying goes, "a thousand miles of marriage is tied by a thread", the red line often refers to "marriage" or "matchmaking", and can also be regarded as a token of marriage.
The custom of red line is gradually replaced by red hand rope, which is a symbol of love. Couples wear one on their wrists, male left and female right, which is a token of love. Represents being together forever, being together for life.
Transportation \ transshipment \ luck
People in China have always liked red, which represents happiness, auspiciousness and good luck. Therefore, wearing a red hand rope also means giving a good start, bringing good luck, transshipment and making a fortune.
Generally, red rope will be matched with transit beads, travel beads (generally made of traditional precious metals such as silver and gold), or brave jade ornaments, gold ingots, wallets, gourds, bells and other auspicious symbolic pendants in national traditions.
Protect yourself and "pray for peace"
Traditionally, red is also considered as an auspicious and safe color; In ancient times, the red rope was regarded as a prayer. The old man said that his left foot is tied with a red rope, and he will not meet ghosts and gods when walking at night.
In order to protect, it is best to wear a red rope with a diamond knot, so many friends like to wear a red rope to protect and pray for peace! For the sake of peace, good believers usually ask the mage to recite scriptures and pray, and bring prayers and blessings into the red rope in the form of praying. Bring blessings for peace and pray for good luck and happiness; Soothe the wearer's heart and purify other thoughts.
Zodiac to ward off evil spirits
The animal year is commonly known as the animal year. In the old customs, this is usually considered as an unlucky year. Therefore, there is a folk song called "Too old to commit a crime in the year of birth, too old to take the lead." Without happiness, there will be disaster. "
Among the taboo folk customs of the animal year, there is a tradition of hanging red in the animal year to avoid evil spirits and disasters. So people especially love red in every animal year. The emphasis on red in the animal year should come from the worship of red in China traditional culture to ward off evil spirits.
Red ward off evil spirits and is auspicious. This tradition has never changed. People like to use red to add joy, such as putting up red couplets, wedding dresses, red hijabs, red candles and new red lists.
In particular, red has the function of exorcising evil spirits and protecting the body; These red items to ward off evil spirits in the animal year are often called "this life is red". In addition, be careful to give it to others, because it is said that if you buy it yourself, you will lose the effect of exorcism.
reference data
Baidu encyclopedia-red rope