It can be seen that in the marriage process of Li people, betel nut has become an important source of local bride price words in Hainan, which is the result of the integration of the traditional culture of this nation into the marriage culture of Han people. At first, in the process of engagement and marriage, the amount of betel nut was relatively large, "tens of millions". Later, some betel nuts were gradually used less, not necessarily tens of millions, or even not at all. Betel nut is only symbolic.
Although betel nut is only a tropical crop in the Li nationality area of Hainan, it has become the object of description in many poems, and the notes of Han in the growing period mentioned above are all aesthetic and literary. In addition, Han Dynasty poets Su Shi and Zhu both have beautiful poems about betel nut, which have been handed down to this day and become a wonderful flower in China literature. Of course, there are many folk literature works handed down by the Li people who grow betel nuts, which add luster to the literary garden and are also an important reference for us to discuss and study the Li people.
Su Shi's poem "eat areca" said: "The moon is bright and there are no branches, and the night building lays the foundation. There is a fan in the clouds, and it is summer in September. Above are heavy houses, and below are crimson thorns. The wind wears purple phoenix eggs, and the rain wears dark dragon milk. As soon as the cracked bag landed, it boiled itself with the skin. When the northern guests are unfamiliar at first, it is difficult to convince the dietary customs. When you are weak, you are afraid of being discouraged and start chewing or half vomiting. Tianjin is slightly sweet, but biting your teeth is also bitter. The face is too cold and the taste is absolutely charming. It's a good idea to punish Peng Xun, and it's also good to push Gu Yong. If the wind is stubborn, make it up from time to time. The medicine can be preserved firmly and the fruit can be used. When Mr. Wang lost his job, he lost his job. If you take a pill every day, your stomach will be insulted. Stab navel kidney, quinoa rotten pavilion at noon. Read the book lamp to see the cream, and miss the calculation. Old eyes are afraid of sleeping less, and it's useless to get red. Eager for merlin to swallow, eager for yellow to act alone. But in the agricultural classics, I accept this trapped journey. Bull tongue doesn't pay people, and popular people are willing to pay more. I know I am biased, but I can pay bad words. "
In this poem, Mr. Dongpo not only described the growth characteristics of betel nut for us in vivid and concise language, but also told us his own situation and feelings in eat areca. This poem can be understood by comparing with Zhu He's poems. Zhu, a great thinker in the Song Dynasty, said in a poem: "My face turned red when I visited Japan in the south. Leaf capsules are useful, and tea can be the same. Donate the special effects of illness, fix the truth and remember different merits. Peng San does not avoid it, and the eroded soil is not in it. " In this poem, we can see Zhu's initial feelings for eat areca, and he even knows the medicinal value of betel nut, which shows that betel nut was gradually recognized by the vast number of southern Han scholars in the Southern Song Dynasty.
Betel nut poems also mention the folk literature works created by Li people in their production and life, among which folk songs are the most. The following is an excerpt from two paragraphs: "Chew betel nut and sing, and see love with red lips." My brother eat areca's sister gave me the ashes, so I don't need the media. ""Men pay attention to women's betel nuts, and they have a wide range of friends. It's reasonable to go to the village. Everyone should try shredded betel nut. "Betel nut has become a literary theme, which is inseparable from the daily life practice of the Li people. Mr Dongpo was demoted to Hainan and made friends with Li people. Betel nut naturally became his description. As a generation of sages, Zhu put betel nut into poetry, which can also be regarded as the implementation of his thought of "writing into poetry" It is not surprising that future generations will write many betel nut poems by following the example of two. Many poems about betel nut handed down in Ming and Qing Dynasties have enriched our understanding and provided us with many valuable materials for studying the betel nut culture of Li nationality today.
As a kind of material object, betel nut has become a symbol in the concept of Li nationality, which shows the social communication rules of Li nationality. Its main social function lies in the expression of etiquette and has the function of maintaining the internal stability of the community.