When were letters invented? Did the ancients really rely on geese and flying pigeons to send letters?

With the progress of the times, people's behavior and ideology have changed. Many things that once had a historical charm are gradually forgotten by people in the long river of years.

"Letter" is the medium and carrier for the ancients to convey news and tell each other their hearts. In the late 1990s, it has faded out of people's sight and disappeared completely.

The author believes that the progress of the times is certainly something to celebrate. But it is also a pity to abandon the so-called "old" and "old" indiscriminately. "Faith" is a cultural product with a history of more than two thousand years.

When it is replaced by modern products such as telephone, SMS and WeChat. Although people's life has become more convenient, it seems that there is also a lack of inexplicable feeling.

As Mu Xin said in the poem "Once Slow": "In the past, the color of the sun was slow, and the mail was slow. You could only love one person in your life."

Nowadays, transportation and communication have become very fast, but people's feelings have become like "fast food". Although the letter has long since withdrawn from the historical stage, it is also a very memorable past in life for those who have written stationery.

In fact, the important position of "letters", a cultural carrier full of historical charm, in ancient society cannot be described in a few words. But it is still meaningful to know more about the history related to "letter" and the ancient ways of sending letters.

The History and Cultural Significance of "Faith"

1. "Faith" has changed from moral standard to "practical writing"

Although "belief" is not a unique cultural form in ancient China, it is the cultural scholars living in ancient society who are the original inventors of "belief". The word "Xin" first appeared in "Bronze Inscriptions". When the seal script of "from people to mouths" appeared, it was changed to "from characters". Literally, it means "a man keeps his word."

As an ancient word with a history of thousands of years, the word "new" has the meaning of audio and news. It is not only an important moral standard advocated by the ancients, but also a moral category of Buddhism.

When the word "Xin" broke away from the ancient meaning and was regarded as a kind of writing on post-it notes, it became synonymous with "practical writing" in ancient times.

"Xin" has many names in ancient times, except for books and letters that are well known to all. It can also be called "miscellaneous, simple, simple and printed"; "ruler, ruler rope, carp, Hongyan, Duoyun, Huahan" and so on. So many pronouns of "Xin" are actually closely related to the replacement of dynasties and their practical functions.

2. The development history of ancient "letters"

The author believes that if we want to mention "letters", we must be inseparable from "postal services". Although the "post" in modern society also has the meaning of transmission and circulation, it is narrower than the "post" in ancient times. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period more than two thousand years ago, the word "post" appeared. And the language that "the popularity of virtue is faster than the delivery of mail".

The so-called "delivery by mail" actually means delivery by mail. At this point, "letter" and "post" have formed an interdependent relationship. From this point, we can know that "letter", as the carrier of transmitting news, also appeared in the Spring and Autumn Period. But who invented it and applied it for the first time has not been confirmed.

However, as a literary genre with practical value in ancient China society. Since its birth, it has participated in politics, military affairs and people's daily life. It also shoulders the important mission of transmitting military secrets and personal emotional exchanges.

The author thinks that "letters", an ancient cultural carrier, not only has important practical value in many fields of ancient society. But also plays an irreplaceable role in the development of ancient history and cultural heritage.

As a simple and convenient practical style, "Xin" has absolutely epoch-making significance.

3. The history of "letter" delivery or sending.

(1) Flying Pigeons Pass Books

"Flying pigeons pass books" and "Hongyan pass books" have the same meaning. Simply put, it means to tie letters to the paws of homing pigeons. Then let it fly and pass it on to the people who want to receive it. As the most primitive way of sending letters in ancient times, it not only strengthened the ties between the ancients, but also played a key role in some important military affairs.

According to historical records, as early as 2500 years ago, ancient ancestors had mastered the technology of domesticating homing pigeons. Carrier pigeons were called "flying slaves" in ancient times.

But also widely used in ancient wars. According to legend, when Liu Bang, the Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, was besieged by Xiang Yu, he used flying pigeons to deliver books to lead reinforcements out of danger.

At the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, Xixia people used homing pigeons to transmit military information when they were fighting against the northern Song army. Qu Duan, a general in the Southern Song Dynasty, also used "flying slaves" to send messages and gather troops. This shows that in ancient society, the way of "flying pigeons passing books" was more common in wars, but the people had not yet appeared.

(2) The postman rides a horse to deliver letters.

In many people's minds, the main way for ancient people to deliver letters is "flying pigeons deliver books".

This idea is not wrong, but it ignores the wisdom of the ancients. Because after the birth of letters, the ancient ruling class in order to better achieve the purpose of communication. At the end of Qin dynasty and the beginning of Han dynasty, the construction of post station began.

As the only place to pass letters and rest officials along the way, the post station played a vital role in the history of sending letters or postal development in ancient society.

And it was not until the post office at the beginning of the last century that this institution with far-reaching historical significance was completely abolished. But it was replaced by the People's Information Bureau and the Post Office.

At the end of the Qin Dynasty and the beginning of the Han Dynasty, special post stations were set up on the main roads under the jurisdiction of the state to deliver government documents. The so-called "government documents" are actually based on letters. The content is not only short and concise, but also very rigorous, which can completely achieve the role of barrier-free communication.

At that time, the main way people delivered or mailed stationery and official documents was actually very primitive. Simply put, it is to set up a special "postal" organization. Then when the "postman" receives the letter or official document, he will ride a horse and deliver it to the designated place or someone's hand. In order to improve work efficiency, the "postman" will change horses at each post station.

4. The important role of "letters" in ancient society

(1) A letter from "Letter"

Du Fu, a realistic poet in the Tang Dynasty, had a rough life, especially after the An Shi Rebellion broke out, he was captured twice and lost his life. He once wrote in Hope for Spring that "after three months of war, a letter from home is worth a ton of gold". The "letter from home" mentioned here is the stationery written by ancient people.

In his poem "Letter from Home", he directly expressed his feelings and looked forward to receiving a letter from home.

"Sent by tourists, attach a letter, know today's news, and the former residence. The bear is safe and sound, and the horse is the most pitiful. When you are old and lonely, you will encounter it when you are hurt. "

The author believes that we can actually know from Du Fu's poems related to "letters from home". "Letters" have been widely circulated in the Tang Dynasty, and their attributes have also changed to some extent. From the earliest transmission of official documents and information to the Tang Dynasty, it has become a "family letter" that the world can write.

Zhang Ji, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, mentioned the word "letter from home" in Qiu Si, saying, "Look at the autumn wind in Luoyang City, so that the writer can write a meaningful book". It also proves that letters have become a common style in the Tang Dynasty. At this point, the connotation of letters tends to express personal feelings. There are both mourning and lovesickness.

(2) Hongyan please write.

There are many sad legends in the history of The Legend of Hongyan. But the more popular stories are those of Wang Baochuan and Xue Pinggui. According to legend, Xue Pinggui went out to fight for more than ten years, and Wang Baochuan stood in a cold kiln waiting for him. Suddenly, when a flock of geese flew by, Wang Baochuan wrote a bloody book and entrusted the geese to bring it to Xue Pinggui to express his feelings for her husband.

In fact, there were many poems about "Hongyan" in ancient times. "Hongyan letter on the pillow, poetry from heaven"; "Under the blue mountain, my boat and I meandered along the green water. Until the river bank widens at low tide, and no wind blows my lonely sail. ... night gives way to the ocean of the sun, and the old year melts in freshness. I can finally send my messenger, the wild goose, back to Luoyang. "

But the most beautiful and emotional thing is "the first talented woman in the ages" and Li Qingzhao's "a piece of plum, red lotus root fragrance, residual jade dies in autumn"

"Red lotus root fragrant residual jade long autumn. Gently untie Luo Shang and go to Lan alone. Who sent the brocade book, the word geese returned, and the moon was full of the West Building. Flowers bloom and fall, and flowing water gurgles. One kind of lovesickness, two places of leisure. There is no way to eliminate this situation. You can only frown and take it to heart. "

It can be said that every word is full of affection, especially the sentence "Who sends a brocade book, and the geese return to the West Building". Express your yearning for her husband, Zhao Mingcheng, through the story invited by the beauty. "Jin Shu" and "Yanzi" are both alphabetic pronouns of the ancients.

The author believes that "letter" is a secret letter or a common cultural carrier to convey military affairs in ancient society. The original meaning it expresses is actually to convey information. However, with the change of dynasties and the gradual improvement of the historical development of letters, the role of "letters" is more and more focused on expressing emotions.

Do you love your children very much? It's enough for a million letters from home; It is also a medium for communication between relatives and friends. Letters played a vital role in ancient China society, and they still played a role in conveying information and emotions from its birth to the end of last century.

Letters is the epitome of the development of humanities and history in ancient society.

It is no exaggeration to say that the development history of letters is actually the epitome of the development of humanities and history in ancient society. What official documents, information and intelligence did it record? As well as love words and be caring and attentive, all truly reflect the ideological world of the ancients. If we compare it to an ancient "history of thought", I believe it will be recognized by many people.

Due to the great impact brought by the development of science and technology, since the late 1990s, many cultural behaviors with historical charm and ancient habits that lasted for thousands of years have gradually faded out of the historical stage. As the first victims, the letter disappeared after the phone appeared.

I believe that for many people born in the 1970s and 1980s, they are actually the last lucky ones to write letters. Although the times are progressing and science and technology are developing, what people need more is "instant messaging", and it is inevitable that letters, a time-consuming and labor-intensive cultural carrier, will withdraw from history.

conclusion

The author thinks that the letters invented by ancient people, as well as the way flying pigeons pass books and post letters, may seem awkward to modern people. However, this writing style, which condenses the wisdom of the ancients and inherits for thousands of years, can represent not only charming cultural characteristics, but also an unforgettable feeling.

When you spread out a piece of writing paper and hold up a brush full of ink, you will pour your thoughts, love and hate on the paper without saying anything. I don't think it matters what is written on the letterhead at the moment. Because what is more important is the person waiting for a reply across from the stationery.