Long nights of unintentional sleep are nothing now. Today, with bright lights and developed Internet, night is just the beginning of another kind of life, but what about this silent night in ancient times? Spend it?
Don’t underestimate the ancients. Compared with modern life, the nightlife of the ancients was very fulfilling.
Let’s talk about the common people first. The productivity during China’s farming period was very low. To get output, the labor force must be heavily used. It can be said that the common people’s nights are not so comfortable and idle. Farmers often have to work on their crops at night. Carry out rough processing, strengthen and repair farm tools, while women have to stretch cotton, weave, print and dye, and make clothes.
In ancient times, ordinary people could not afford to light oil lamps. When curfews were implemented during specific periods, people could only entertain themselves at home and entertain their children. In the more open dynasties, there were festivals During the celebration, you can also take to the streets. Whether it is setting up stalls to generate income or just taking a leisurely stroll, it is also a great pleasure for people who take a break from their busy schedule.
Chinese civilization has a long history, and learning has always been an indispensable and important part of every dynasty. Scholars would stay up late at night to read, rich kids would light lamps to boil oil, and poor kids would cut through walls to steal light. They work hard and diligently, and on the other hand, students also socialize. In the eyes of literati, the long nights can calm their mood.
Strictly speaking, before the Tang Dynasty, Chinese cities had always implemented a strict curfew system. Almost no one was allowed to go out except the watchmen. Curfews have been recorded in documents since the Zhou Dynasty. The curfew system of the DPRK is very strict. There is only one nighttime activity in public places with large crowds of people once a year, and that is the Lantern Festival. The curfew is lifted only on this day of the year.
In the late Tang Dynasty, the curfew system began to relax, and in the Northern Song Dynasty, the night ban was completely abandoned. Most of the people who could participate in nightlife were dignitaries. When night fell, how could the dandies live up to this leisure time? Love. Those who are lively can hang out in night markets and brothels, while those who don't like the excitement can masturbate by chatting about music, chess, calligraphy and painting. The most unique thing is the late night snacks in the night market. In the Song Dynasty, there were even 24-hour snack shops.
The emergence of modern technology has opened up a new world for us, but if you are tired, you might as well experience the state of mind of the ancients and let yourself go to admire the moon and enjoy the different tastes brought by the night.