The Cultural Background of Jujube

Jujube has a long history of cultivation in China, and Qingyun County is the famous hometown of jujube in China. In the early 1970s, carbonized jujube stones were found in beans (a kind of food container with a high base) unearthed in Qizhouwu Village, Qingyun County, which was identified as Xia and Shang Dynasties 4,000 years ago. Carbonized jujube stone found in Peiligang cultural site in Xinzheng, Henan Province is about 8000 years ago. Jujube has been recorded in China characters for more than 3,000 years. The oldest writing about dates probably appeared in the Book of Songs, in which it was said that "dates are peeled in August and rice is harvested in October." In Feng Wei, there is a saying that "the garden has thorns, but it is actually food." In Xiaoya, there is a proverb, "camp, stop at the spine." There is a saying in Qin Feng that "crossing a yellow bird stops at a thorn". Spines refer to jujube trees. Confucian classics describe jujube in more detail. In Zhou Li Tianguan Ren Qian, it is said that "the food is jujube, halogen, peach and hazelnut." According to the book Book of Rites Bride Gifts, dates and chestnuts were presented to the officials in charge of pilgrimage when the ancient princes went on the road to greet them. Use two covered bamboo poles, one for dates and the other for chestnuts. The book "Evening Ceremony" says that on the last night before burial, the varieties of sacrifice should be jujube and candied chestnuts. According to Yili's special sacrificial feeding ceremony and Yili Tourism Department, on the first day of each month, the local governor and the following officials-scholars will go to the temple to offer sacrifices. In addition to the prescribed livestock, there are also dates and chestnuts, and whoever puts dates and chestnuts is particular. Later, The Warring States Policy Yance I recorded that when Su Qin lobbied the six countries, he said to Yan, "There are benefits from Jieshi and Yanmen in the south and dates and chestnuts in the north. Although the people are not cultivated by the fields, jujube chestnuts are enough to consolidate the people. This is called Tianfu. " This shows that jujube was the economic lifeline of Beiyan at that time, and it was one of the bases for emperors to consider the national policy of governing the country and safeguarding the country. For the planting and cultivation of jujube trees, it is recorded in Guangwu Zhi Bo: "In Zhou Wenwang, jujube trees with weak branches are very beautiful, and it is forbidden to take them away and put them in the tree garden." The record in Qi Yaomin's Book is more detailed: "Choose the jujube with good taste, keep the seeds and wait for the jujube leaves to move." "Jujube is strong and does not prey on seedlings." Er Ya Shi Mu is the first book in China to record and explain jujube varieties. The recorded Zhou jujube varieties are Hu jujube, Yao jujube, Bai jujube, Jujube, Qi jujube, Yang Zao jujube, jujube, sweet jujube, bitter jujube and black jujube. By the Yuan Dynasty, there were as many as 72 kinds of jujube varieties recorded in Jujube Shop. During the Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty, there were 87 jujube varieties recorded in the Textual Research of Plant Names. It can be said that jujube, as a fruit, occupies a very important position in politics, economy and life, from eating fruit in ancient times to planting it later, from eating products for kings in ancient times to greeting gifts from governors, and even to Confucian "three gifts" (funeral, burial and sacrifice) supplies, royal sacrifices in Ming and Qing Dynasties, and then to people's conscious large-scale planting with economic development in later generations. In thousands of years of production and life practice, jujube trees have forged an indissoluble bond with the people of Zaoxiang. People plant, manage and use jujube, eat jujube in different ways, write jujube, recite jujube, sing jujube and draw jujube. Jujube has gradually entered and integrated into all fields of human social life, and gradually formed jujube culture. Jujube's thought and culture are in perfect harmony with the customs and habits of jujube township, so jujube culture has accumulated in a long history, which is rich and broad and reflects everything in the world from different levels, different meanings and different degrees. Jujube culture is mainly manifested in all aspects of literature and art, politics, economy, philosophy and social life. Jujube trees are inextricably linked with history, culture, folk customs, wars, policies, ancient and modern celebrities, agriculture, industry, tourism, names, place names and daily life, leaving traces of jujube culture everywhere. Literary works describing or related to jujube are the soul of jujube culture, mainly including legends, stories, novels, poems, essays, plays, idioms, riddles, two-part allegorical sayings, couplets, jokes, tongue twisters, fables, proverbs, paintings, photography, sculptures, songs, instrumental music and so on. Jujube has been written into poems and songs by poets of past dynasties, and poems praising jujube trees abound. Through these poems, we have traveled through just visiting, and we can fully appreciate the scenery of the former jujube town, feel the vicissitudes of history, and recall the feelings of old friends, sages and contemporary people who love jujube. Li Qi, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, once wrote: "In April, the south wind blows the yellow wheat fields, and the jujube flowers are shaded by tung trees"; Liu Changqing, another famous poet in the Tang Dynasty, said, "Over the mountains, the house is red underground"; Zhang Lei, a poet in the Song Dynasty, wrote that "the jujube garden is cool after the rain, and the white shirt is dressed as a savage"; In the Qing Dynasty, Qingyun County ordered Guishan to chant that "it is the season when the weather is favorable, the buds of jujube trees begin to grow and the wheat begins to fertilize", and another poet also wrote. Su Shi, a great poet in the Song Dynasty, wrote the lyrics "Huanxisha" when he was the magistrate of Xuzhou, expressing his joy at the sight of the new countryside after the rain. Cui Xu, a poet in the Qing Dynasty, once wrote: "In August in Lin Qiu on the riverside, red beads press branches; A healthy woman with a long waist is carrying a basket, and a jujube pole is twenty fists long. " Another poet wrote, "The spring breeze has passed, the autumnal equinox has passed, and the jujube beats every other day;" Three or two families have 100,000 trees, and the top of the field is red. " The scene of jujube harvest in autumn is still like hearing its sound and watching its scenery. In "Land Separation in Qing Dynasty", Zaolin Road is ambiguous, and people walk along the old Xixi River. HongLing's poem "Pear blossoms slowly, warm wind softens sand and sinks horseshoes" describes the beautiful scenery of jujube garden. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression period, Commander Xiao Hua sang in his March on the Border Region of Shandong and Hebei: "We are not afraid that the enemy will raid 200 strongholds crazily and let them camp on the cross-road network three miles away from the enemy. We are not afraid of eating leaves and jujube chaff and always stick to our posts. The harder the environment, the more glorious it is; Comrades, we must go all out and win! " It expresses the strong will and proletarian revolutionary optimism of the soldiers in our military region to carry out the war to the end. When Wang Shuli, then deputy director of the Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, served as secretary of Qingyun County Committee, he wrote Tang Zao Fu and Poems on Jujube with great interest, and issued heartfelt words that "those who want to persuade people to live long will not hesitate to celebrate Qingyun", expressing the infinite admiration and love of all jujube villagers for jujube trees. Folk stories and anecdotes are widely circulated, giving good wishes to the people of Zaoxiang. Tang jujube tree, the oldest jujube king in China (more than 65,438+0,300 years), exists in Zhouyin Village beside Jinqing River in Qingyun. It is said that Luo Cheng, a hero at the end of Sui Dynasty, tied his horse to rest under the jujube tree. According to legend, Luo Cheng, a general who fought in the border area for many years, went back to his hometown in Licheng with his father to visit relatives. He was tired halfway, so he tied his horse to a jujube tree not far from the south bank of Fujin River to rest and enjoy the cool. When he was sleeping soundly, he was awakened by ripe dates falling from the branches. He picked them up to satisfy his hunger, and his mouth was full of saliva, sweet and deep-rooted, and he felt refreshed. McCullough saw Li Shimin, the future king of Qin. He was busy offering some red dates that fell into the cracks in the saddle. Li Shimin tasted it and praised it. After Li Shimin became the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he sent people to Zhouyin Village to pick dates every autumn when they were ripe and turned red. Therefore, the local people like to call the Tang jujube tree "Luocheng Matie Pile". Another legend is even more amazing. When the prince of Yan swept across the north in the Ming Dynasty, many local people hid under the Tang jujube tree. Suddenly, the fog enveloped them and they couldn't see their fingers. After that, soldiers passed by, but they didn't find everyone, and the people survived. Therefore, the local people also call the Tang jujube tree a sacred tree. There is also a tragic story circulating in the local area. It is said that when the prince of Yan swept north, a mother gave up her own son to save passers-by and was finally killed by officers and men. The next year, she was buried under the mother-child tree. Therefore, some descendants praised the jujube tree in Tang Dynasty as a poem: "The water in Sichuan is slow and prosperous for thousands of years; See the vicissitudes of life, see the ups and downs, and pass them on from generation to generation; The Wagang hero used to be a horse, and the prince swept away the fog in the north; Children and grandchildren multiply all over the earth, leaving red fruits for the benefit of the world. "There is a jujube tree in the south of Dadian Village, Yanwu Township, Qingyun, which has a history of hundreds of years. It is said that there is another beautiful and touching story. During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, the eunuch who was in charge of choosing concubines among the people came to Qingyun, which belonged to Hejian House at that time. A peasant woman, a roadside village girl attracted by the sound of escorting, happened to be taken a fancy to by eunuchs and was selected because of her national beauty and fragrance. She will be sent to the palace in a few days. But this woman Wang Xing likes someone, so she cries every day. A few days before she entered the palace, she hanged herself, and people had to bury Miss Wang in the wasteland outside the village. A few years later, a jujube tree grew where Mr. Wang was buried. Jujube is sour and astringent, and the locals call it "Zizyphus jujuba". There is also a magical story circulating in Taihang Mountain area. According to legend, in the early years of Sui Dynasty, there was a woman named Su in Shanxi. /kloc-at the age of 0/7, she got a strange disease, pale, festering all over and as thin as firewood. The family sought medical treatment in many ways and could not be cured. The girl was in tears and wanted to die. Later, when she entered Taihang Mountain, she saw a tree full of red fruits. Miss Su was tired and hungry, so she picked it and ate it. After eating, she fainted. Three months later, a miracle appeared and the girl became beautiful and fragrant. When the villagers saw her, they thought that she had achieved immortality and offered sacrifices to her, calling this red fruit a "sacred fruit". In fact, the wild fruit that Miss Su eats is red dates. Therefore, there is a local saying that "a jujube in front of the door keeps the beauty from getting old" and "for the sake of better skin, add red dates to porridge". Since ancient times, jujube has been closely related to the folk custom of Chinese New Year in Zaoxiang. People place more hopes on jujube and associate it with celebrations, such as blessings, birthdays, New Year greetings and congratulations. When the girls in the village get married, accompanied by their parents, they put some dried red dates in the dowry, bedding and suitcase. On the wedding night, the husband's mother-in-law and aunt also sprinkled some red dates and peanuts in the bridal chamber where the couple lived, which was homophonic to have a baby early, reflecting people's expectation for future generations and yearning for life is sweet. In the past, women gave birth to children, and some named them. Girls are called "jujube flowers" and "jujube fragrance", while boys are called "jujube columns" and "jujube piles". When the child is at the full moon, the adults will take the child out of the house and give it to whom, and they will send gifts such as dates, and go out empty-handed, indicating that the child is kind and sincere when he grows up. When the child has a birthday, the parents let the child jump three times in front of the chopping board with jujube cake, which indicates that the child jumps high, grows fast and becomes an adult early. There are many customs in Zaoxiang. During the Spring Festival, steamed jujube cakes are offered to the gods. Jujube dumplings should be wrapped in Dragon Boat Festival in May; On August 15 Mid-Autumn Festival, ancestors should be sacrificed with fruits such as dates, apples and grapes. Every year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, every household cooks jujube porridge, commonly known as "Laba porridge". On the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, commonly known as off-year, people make rice cakes with millet flour and red dates, which are sticky and sweet, especially delicious. On weekdays, people will make some jujube food, eat it by themselves or entertain and give it to guests. There are many traditional practices of jujube, mainly including jujube steamed bread, jujube rice, jujube cake, jujube cut cake, jujube flower roll, jujube tea soup, jujube paste bag, etc., and it can also be made into drunken dates, drunken dates, roasted dates, stuffed dates and candied dates. , but also can brew "jujube sticks" old shochu. Nowadays, people have made rich and delicious Ejiao candied dates, crisp dates, jujube vinegar, jujube powder, jujube juice, jujube beer and so on with the help of modern science and technology. Jujube products not only entered the homes of ordinary people, but also went abroad and became a delicacy for people all over the world. As a gift between relatives and friends, red dates are not only a delicious food, but also have a meaning far beyond itself. " "Mandarin Lu Yu" says: "Couples can't hold dates and chestnuts, but they can tell their filial piety. "Jujube, get up early; Chestnuts, receive a gift. " "Etiquette Wedding" contains: "Good quality, praise aunt ... women hold jujube chestnuts, enter from the door, worship from the west platform, and feast. "It means that ancient women get up early in the morning to visit their elders, often offering dates and chestnuts, and getting up early and being pious. There is a saying in Miscellaneous Five Elements Book: "Take 27 pieces of jujube and cheat people to cure the disease. I can always take the people and thorns in the jujube pit and stop doing all kinds of evil. "That jujube also has the meaning of exorcism and blessing. In the jujube garden, all passing guests can enter the jujube garden for tasting in advance. Jujube farmers don't collect money, and they can pick grain when the owner is away. " Melons, peaches, plums and dates are not robbers ". Jujube people also regard jujube as a symbol of good love. Yang Ping, a writer, made a detailed record in the book Random Talk on Jujube Township: "In Jujube Township, when young men and women express their feelings, it is mostly the harvest season of jujube. The largest and reddest fresh dates picked from the trees in the jujube orchard are given to each other as a token of their age. After they left, the shy woman had to catch up with the right person, secretly gave each other two huge and hard-to-find big red dates and turned away. At this time, the man realized that the two red dates were crystal clear, suggesting that the man should propose early and the two bright red hearts should be combined early. "Jujube culture has a long history and is in the same strain, and it is constantly enriching and innovating, giving it a distinctive color of the times. Nowadays, people in Zaoxiang have widely carried out economic and trade activities with jujube as the medium, and Shandong Laoling has held 18 Golden Jujube Festival continuously. In Qingyun, Shandong, the local government advocated the masses to widely plant jujube trees to promote the construction of jujube gardens on the earth, at the same time, it created the brand of "ecological jujube town" and developed the large-scale Tangzao ecological park. Nearly10,000 ancient jujube trees in the park have different shapes, attracting many tourists and becoming another new tourist highlight in the county. /% C0 % CF % D0 % EC % B5 % C4 % CE % C4 % d 1% A7 % C0 % D6 % D4 % B0/blog/item/26be 4 1c 2606 19534 e 5 DD 3 b 97 . html

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