China News Service, Beijing, February 21 (Reporter Shangguan Yun) "On February 2, the dragon raises its head, and the weather is good." After the lively Lantern Festival, the Spring Dragon Festival is here, which is what people often say "the dragon raises its head". ".
It is a traditional festival that also has important symbolic significance in agriculture.
Spring returns to the earth, everything is full of vitality, and spring plowing is carried out in an orderly manner.
Zhao Yuntao, a lecturer at the Chinese School of the University of International Business and Economics, said that the origin of the "dragon raising its head" is related to natural and astronomical phenomena. Its customs are rich and diverse, including dragon dances, social dramas and various temple fairs.
Eating customs are even more interesting.
Old Beijingers want to eat spring pancakes, which is called "eating Longlin".
In addition, eating noodles is also called "eating dragon beard", eating dumplings is called "eating long ears", eating wontons is called "eating longan" and so on.
Data map: The picture shows the dragon dancers performing a wonderful dragon dance.
Photo by Chen Xin
Originated from natural astronomical worship?
"Dragon Head Up" is an important traditional festival.
Some people believe that it originated from the worship of natural phenomena, which is related to people's understanding of the movement of stars and farming culture in ancient times.
Among the twenty-eight constellations in China, the ancients imagined the combination of the eastern seven constellations, kang, di, fang, heart, tail, and ji as the image of a dragon. According to the theory of yin and yang and five elements to color the five directions, they believed that the east was wood and belonged to blue. So it is called "Qinglong" or "Canglong".
"Shuowen Jiezi" says: "Dragon, as long as a scale insect, can be quiet and bright, can be thin or huge, can be short or long, can reach the sky at the vernal equinox, and dive into the abyss at the autumnal equinox." And the dragon gradually appeared on the horizon " Horn", which means that spring is coming, which is what the folk saying goes, "the dragon raises its head".
That is to say, "Canglong Qisu" disappears below the horizon in winter, and after the first month of February in the lunar calendar, at dusk, Spica appears from the eastern horizon, but the body of Canglong is still hidden below the horizon, so it is "dragon raising its head". ".
Zhao Yuntao said that dragons have many auspicious meanings.
In ancient times, although the etiquette system was strict, the common people did not give up their love and worship of dragons. There should be dragons in festivals, such as playing with dragon lanterns and dancing on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month;
A day to pray for good weather
It’s important to note, though, that the festival has also undergone an interesting evolution.
Zhao Yuntao said that around the Tang and Song Dynasties, people had already started to celebrate "February 2", but at first "February 2" had little to do with "Dragon Raises its Head".
In the Southern Song Dynasty, records about "dragon raising its head" appeared, such as "now on February 2nd, let the dragon raise its head temporarily".
The Yuan Dynasty's "Analysis of Jin Zhi" mentioned that "on February 2, it is said that the dragon raises its head".
In the Ming and Qing dynasties that recorded the festivals of the year, the statement that "the dragon raises its head on February 2" is more explicit.
For example, the "Emperor Beijing Scenery" recorded in the Ming Dynasty: "On February 2, the dragon raises its head".
Data map: On the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, the "Dragon Raises its Head" dragon boat race was held at Shiyan Lake in Changsha, Hunan.
Photo by Yang Huafeng
Judging from the connotation and customs of the festival, since ancient times, people have regarded the "Dragon Raising its Head Day" as a day to pray for good weather, drive away evil spirits and avoid disasters, and bring good fortune and luck.
Yang Qi grows, everything revives
In agriculture, "dragon raising its head" also has important symbolic meaning.
Zhao Yuntao gave an example. For example, "February 2, the dragon raises its head" symbolizes the recovery of all things, and the next solar term is the Jingzhe. The ancients believed that the dragon is the leader of a hundred insects. It must wake up first. everything.
Of course, some pests may harm people or crops after they wake up.
Therefore, people will "smoke the insects" on this day to eliminate the pests in advance.
The ancients believed that "February 2" ushered in the blue dragon, and the dragon was in charge of the rain. After that, there would be more and more rain, and the season suitable for farming would come.
Just as the folk proverb says, "On February 2, when the dragon raises its head, everyone's small households will use cattle to farm."
At this time in the south, there is the custom of offering sacrifices to the gods of the society. The sacrifices to the gods of the gods inherit the custom of the traditional "spring society". Spring is the beginning of farming.
Zhao Yuntao believes that the north is relatively short of water, and the ancients believed that the dragon is in charge of rainfall, so people in the north tend to worship the dragon more, while the rain in the south is more abundant, and people rely more on the land.
Therefore, they also celebrate "February 2". Most of the customs in the northern region combine food, dragon dance and other customs with "dragon", hoping for more rain; Gods and other customs.
Data map: The picture shows the dragon dance scene.
Photo by Zhao Yumei
In farming culture, the "dragon raising its head" symbolizes the growth of Yang Qi, the recovery of all things, and the gradual start of spring farming.
Therefore, this festival is also called "Spring Plowing Festival", "Farming Festival", "Spring Dragon Festival" and so on.
What are the eating customs?
Just because people like dragons, many foods on "February 2" are "named" with dragons, which is full of life.
In the Qing Dynasty "Ji Sheng at the Age of Emperor Beijing", it is said: "People in the capital use millet noodles, jujube cakes, wheat rice and other things to fry for food." That is to say, Beijingers had to eat a kind of food similar to pancakes at that time. This is probably the folk saying. "Eating Dragon Skin".
In addition, the old Beijingers also eat spring pancakes, which are called "eating Longlin" with various vegetables rolled up layer by layer.
Interestingly, eating noodles is also called "eating dragon beard", eating dumplings is called "eating long ears", eating wontons is called "eating longan" and so on.
There are also some people who will prepare the raw materials for frying jelly beans. On the morning of "February 2", they fry peanuts and soybeans with sugar, which is sweet and delicious.
Some places pay attention to frying and stewing, and eating pork head meat.
Many customs place people's desire to pray for blessings from the dragon.
Why do people associate what they eat on this day with "dragons"?
Zhao Yuntao believes that this actually means "calling the dragon". If you keep chanting the word "dragon", the dragon will wake up after hearing it and start a year's work, such as rainfall.
In Shanghai, Jiangsu and other places, people eat waist cakes. It is said that after eating them, they will not suffer from back pain for a year;
Dragon dance, social opera... a lively festival
In addition to eating and drinking, "February 2, the dragon raises its head" is actually very lively, with dragon dances, social dramas, and various temple fairs.
Data map: Beijing citizens have haircuts in street leisure areas.
That day is the second day of the second lunar month in the Chinese lunar calendar. There is a folk custom of "shaving the dragon's head on February 2nd", which means saying goodbye to the old and ushering in the new, which brings good omens.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Hou Yu
According to the records of "Emperor Beijing Scenery" of the Ming Dynasty, "Children use two inches of wood to make it like a jujube core, place it on the ground and stick it, one blow will start, and the next blow will make the distance, and the near is the negative." A children's game, roughly like baseball.
On the day when the dragon raises its head, people spread ash from the yard to the house, and circle around the water tank. This is called "leading the dragon over" or "leading the dragon back". If there is a tank, there will be no shortage of water, and it also means to protect the safety and auspiciousness of the family.
On the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, people also use plant ash to draw warehouses in courtyards or vegetable fields, and put coins or grains in them, which is called "ash storage", which means that the warehouse will be full of money and grain in the coming year, and the grains will be plentiful. .
In the past, people believed that "February 2" was the beginning of a year's farming, and they were willing to ask for a good omen. The folk proverb said, "On February 2, the dragon raises its head, the big warehouse is full, and the small warehouse is flowing." Although different, the meaning is the same.
"Ji Sheng at the age of the emperor" records, "(February) 2nd is the day when the dragon raises its head... The children are lazy to study, and they start to enter the study room on this day, and it is said to be the leader." At this time, children go to school and enter the study room, which is called "Zhan Aotou". , held a pen opening ceremony, and wished the children grow up to be literate.
Children's haircut on the second day of February is called "happy head shaving". It is auspicious time when the dragon raises its head to bless the children's healthy growth; adults get a haircut, hoping to bring good luck and a smooth new year.
Zhao Yuntao believes that, in general, although there are differences in customs in various places, the wish for good weather, health and safety on "February 2" is the same. This festival places people's good hopes for the future.
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