Ancient and modern information transmission methods and specific stories

Ancient times: beacon fires, postal transmissions

Modern times: telephone calls, letters, emails

Ancient ways of transmitting information:

1. Using migratory birds, especially pigeons, geese, etc. as transportation tools

2. Making fillings, such as hiding in fish maws, cakes, steamed buns, etc.

3. Using special sounds, Such as bells, drums, firecrackers, etc.

4. Use lights and fires, such as Kongming lanterns, beacon towers, etc.

5. There are other signs, decorations, etc., such as luring the enemy The sign of

Modern information transmission methods:

1. Wired communication transmission, such as telephone, fax, telegraph, television, etc.

2. Wireless communication transmission, Such as walkie-talkies, BP machines (to be eliminated), mobile phones, radios

3. Digital communication transmission, the most familiar, networked computers, digital TV

4. Paper communication transmission , such as letters, newspapers, etc.

The Dragon Festival of the King's Order

The Letter Festival of the Chu State during the Warring States Period. Made of bronze, long in shape, with dragon-shaped decorations engraved on the first end. On both sides of the front and back are engraved the words "King's Order, Order of Life, Lease a Pail, Drink It" and "***". Many copper festivals of this kind have been found. Those who come and go on official business can use them to stop and travel, and to get food and drink.

One Hundred Thousand Urgent General Orders

The Xixia Bronze Medal comes in three forms: a letter plate, a bronze medal for staying on standby, and a guarding plate. The bronze medal in the picture is a letter plate, also called a military order plate. It is a set of copper plates and consists of an upper cover and a lower base. The whole thing is round at the top and has a rectangular perforation at the top. It can be tied with a rope or fixed on the body with a belt to make it difficult to lose when marching or delivering orders.

The circular part has a diameter of 15 cm, and there is a 0.6 cm semicircular edge on the edge of the round cover. In the middle, there are 4 Chinese characters in Chinese characters "毕然马burn" (meaning "fire galloping horse") in regular script. The lower part of the round cover is flat and smooth, and the outer half of the other side of the card also has a half-circle 0.6 cm wide. The card is engraved with four consecutive honeysuckle flower scroll patterns, which can be inserted into a bronze medal with text. The production process of the bronze medal is quite exquisite, the copper density is very good, there are no blisters, and the appearance is regular and beautiful. According to textual research, "Wen Hai" written by the Xixia people explained the "Xinpai": "It is used immediately for quick emergencies, so it is called Xinpai." This shows that this sign is a special talisman for conveying military orders in emergencies. It is a symbol of the Xixia army. Only used by those with higher official ranks.

According to "Xu Zi Zhi Tong Jian Chang Bian", in the war with Xi Xia in June of the fifth year of Yuan Feng (1082), the Song army defeated Xi Xia's "unifying army Wei Ming Mo Qin Wei, deputy general Abuya, who commanded the army, obtained the bronze seal, the military talisman, and the military book of troops and horses, and was awarded the thirty-eighth rank of Fan Dingtoufan. The "soldier talisman" mentioned here is the "talisman card" or the "military order signal card" specially used for troop deployment.

Our country is one of the first countries in the world to establish an organized information delivery system. As early as the Shang Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago, information transmission has been recorded. Riding a horse to deliver a message was an early form of organized communication. The "Post Envoy" sculpture located in the square of Jiayuguan Railway Station is based on the mural tombs of the Wei and Jin Dynasties in Jiayuguan. The post envoy holds slips and documents in his hands, and the post horse is flying with all four legs in the air at a very fast speed. This brick mural was used as the theme pattern for small stamps by the First Congress of the All-China Philatelic Federation in 1982. This shows that Jiayuguan is one of the birthplaces of China's information culture.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, a complete system of postal transmission was formed. Especially in the Han Dynasty, the documents to be delivered were divided into levels, and documents of different levels were delivered by special persons and horses in the specified order and time. When sending and receiving these documents, you must register them and indicate the time to clarify your responsibilities.

During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Yi Chuan business achieved unprecedented development. The official mail transportation line of the Tang Dynasty centered on the capital Chang'an and radiated in all directions, reaching directly to the border areas. There was a post station approximately 30 miles away. According to the "Six Codes of the Tang Dynasty", at its peak, there were 1,639 post stations across the country, with more than 20,000 people specializing in post services, including 17,000 post soldiers. There are three types of postal posts: land post, water post, and waterway combined post. Each post station has a post house, equipped with post horses, post donkeys, post boats and post fields.

The Tang Dynasty also had clear regulations on the itinerary of postal stations. A fast horse in Luyi could travel 6 stations a day, which is 180 miles, and it would be almost 300 miles a day, and the fastest required is 500 miles a day; people on foot could travel 50 miles a day. miles; when sailing against the current, the river is 40 miles, the river is 50 miles, and the other 60 miles; when sailing with the current, the limit is 100 to 150 miles.

The poet Cen Shen wrote in the poem "On the way to Longshan for the first time, I submitted a letter to the judge": "One post passed by another, and the post riders were like stars; they left Xianyang at dawn, and the curtain reached the head of Longshan." Here he compares Yiqi to a shooting star. On November 9, the 14th year of Tianbao, An Lushan rebelled in Fan Yang. At that time, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was in the Huaqing Palace, and the two places were three thousand miles apart. Within 6 days, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty knew the news, and the transmission speed reached 500 miles per day. It can be seen that the organization and speed of postal communications in the Tang Dynasty have reached a very high level.

In the Song Dynasty, all official documents and correspondence organizations were collectively called "delivery", and "express delivery shops" appeared. The couriers who deliver expresses have copper bells tied to their collars. When they are running on the road, they ring the bells during the day and light the fire at night. They are not responsible for killing people if they hit them. Horses were changed from bunk to bunk, people were changed from several bunks, rain or shine, day and night. In the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty, Yue Fei, the anti-golden general, was forced to recall Lin'an from the front line by Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty with twelve gold medals. These gold medals were the gold-lettered medals delivered by the express delivery shop, which contained the meaning of great urgency.

1. Use migratory birds, especially pigeons, geese, etc. as transportation tools

2. Use as fillings, such as hiding in fish maws, cakes, steamed buns, etc.

3. Use special sounds, such as bells, drums, firecrackers, etc.

4. Use lights and firelights, such as Kongming lanterns, beacon towers, etc.

5. And Other signs, decorations, etc., such as signs to lure enemies

Modern information transmission methods:

1. Wired communication transmission, such as telephone, fax, telegraph, television, etc.

2. Wireless communication transmission, such as walkie-talkies, BP machines (to be eliminated), mobile phones, radios

3. Digital communication transmission, the most familiar ones, networked computers, digital TVs

4. Paper communication transmission, such as letters, newspapers, etc.

(The writing is relatively simple, if there are any mistakes, please correct me! Thank you!!)

One is letters , delivered by the postman, riding to each post station, changing horses, and finally delivering the letter

There is also the flying pigeon to deliver the letter, which is to use the carrier pigeon to tie the letter to the pigeon's leg and then release it. The carrier pigeon will return to its original place, and the carrier pigeon brought from that place will be used wherever you write a letter

There are also some more informal ones such as rumors, storytellers, etc., where people spread information by spreading rumors to each other

Or the storyteller compiles certain things into lyrics and sings them in a storyteller way, which can be regarded as information dissemination. One is the letter, which is delivered by the postman. He rides to each post station, changes horses, and finally delivers the letter to

There is also the method of sending letters by flying pigeons, that is, using carrier pigeons, tying the letter to the carrier pigeon's legs, and then letting it fly. Carrier pigeons

There are also some more informal ones such as rumors, storytelling, etc. People spread information by spreading rumors to each other

Or storytellers compile certain things into words and use storytelling. Singing can also be regarded as information dissemination

Ancient Communication

Overview

In ancient times, our country used drumming to transmit information, which was earliest at the end of primitive society.

By the Western Zhou Dynasty, our country already had a relatively complete postal system.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, with the advancement of politics, economy and culture, postal communication gradually became complete.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Wei's greatest achievement in the history of postal service was the formulation of the "Postal Service Order".

One of the signs of the development of the postal industry in the Sui and Tang Dynasties was the increase in the number of post offices.

During the Yuan Dynasty of our country, the post office developed greatly again.

The biggest feature of the postal system reform in the Qing Dynasty was the merger of "post" and "post".

After the middle of the Qing Dynasty, with the establishment of modern postal services, the ancient postal system was gradually eliminated.

Beacon fire conveys military information

"Beacon fire" is a communication method used to transmit border military information in ancient my country. It began in the Shang and Zhou dynasties and extended to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has been used for thousands of years. Among them, the beacon fire organization in the Han Dynasty was the largest. On the heights of border military fortresses or traffic hubs, high platforms are built at regular intervals, commonly known as beacon towers, also known as beacons, piers, smoke piers, etc. There was a garrison on the high platform waiting for the enemy to invade. During the day, firewood was burned to raise the alarm with "burnt smoke", and at night, firewood was burned to raise the alarm with "beacon" (light of fire). When one tower lights up beacon smoke, neighboring towers will also light up their fires one after another when they see it. They will pass it from tower to tower, thousands of miles away, in order to achieve the purpose of reporting the enemy's situation, dispatching troops and generals, seeking reinforcements, and defeating the enemy.

In the history of our country, there is another story of "playing beacons on princes" in which beacons were lit at will in order to please a beauty, which eventually led to the country's demise.

After the Zhou Dynasty destroyed the Shang Dynasty, it established its capital in Haojing, which was historically called the Western Zhou Dynasty. In the early days, in order to consolidate the state power, the king of Zhou successively enfeoffed his brothers, relatives, and heroes to various places as vassals, established vassal states, and established a whole set of systems. Agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce all developed to a certain extent.

Hongyan Chuan Shu

The allusion of "Hongyan Chuan Shu" comes from the story of "Su Wu shepherding sheep" in "Han Shu? Su Wu Biography". According to records, in the first year of the Han Dynasty (100 BC), the envoy Zhonglang of the Han Dynasty, Su Wu, was detained by the Shanyu, the Marquis of Tutankhamun, on an envoy to the Xiongnu. He was brave and unyielding, and the Shanyu exiled him to Beihai (today's Lake Baikal). ) Shepherding sheep in no man’s land. Nineteen years later, Emperor Zhao of the Han Dynasty succeeded to the throne, and the Han Dynasty reconciled and got married. Envoys from the Han Dynasty came to threaten Su Wu and demanded that Su Wu be released. However, the Chanyu refused and could not say so, so he lied that Su Wu was dead. Later, Emperor Zhao of the Han Dynasty sent envoys to the Huns. Chang Hui, the deputy envoy who went to the Huns with Su Wu and was detained, secretly met with the Han envoys one night through the help of the jailer, told the Han envoys about Su Wu's situation, and He came up with a plan and asked the Han envoy to tell Shanyu: "When the emperor of the Han Dynasty was hunting in Shanglinyuan, he shot a wild goose. On his foot was a letter written on silk, which said that Su Wu was not dead, but It's in a large swamp." The Han envoy was very happy after hearing this and rebuked Shan Yu according to Chang Hui's words. Chanyu was greatly surprised after hearing this, but could not deny it, so he had to let Su Wu go.

The Blue Bird Biography

According to the ancient Chinese book "The Classic of Mountains and Seas", there are three blue birds, named Zhao Lan and Zi Yan (there is also a blue bird named by the author) (not found) are followers and messengers of the Queen Mother of the West. They can fly across thousands of mountains and rivers to deliver messages, delivering good news of auspiciousness, happiness and joy to the world. It is said that the Queen Mother of the West once wrote a letter to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The Queen Mother of the West sent a blue bird to deliver the letter, and the Blue Bird delivered the letter of the Queen Mother of the West to the Chenghua Hall of the Han Palace. In later myths, the blue bird gradually evolved into the Phoenix, the king of birds.

Li Jing, the leader of the Southern Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem: "Blue birds do not send foreign messages from the clouds, and lilacs are empty in the rain." Li Bai in the Tang Dynasty wrote a poem, "I wish to report long-lasting lovesickness because of the three blue birds." Li Shangyin wrote a poem, "Peng Peng" There are no many roads to this mountain, and the blue bird is diligent in looking around." Cui Guofu's poem "I think of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in the distance, when will the blue bird pass by", all of which are borrowed from the allusion of "the blue bird's message".

Huang Er Chuan Shu

Everyone is familiar with pigeons delivering letters, because there is still a pigeon association and long-distance pigeon flight competitions are often held. The homing pigeon will not get lost during long-distance flights because of its unique function, that is, it can identify the direction by sensing magnetism and latitude.

There is no clear statement on the exact time when pigeons started delivering messages, but as early as the Tang Dynasty, pigeons were already common. There is a record of "passing pigeons" in Wang Renyu of the Five Dynasties in "The Legacy of Kaiyuan Tianbao": "When Zhang Jiuling was a boy, his family raised a group of pigeons. Whenever he corresponded with relatives and friends, he would only tie the pigeons' feet with books and fly according to what he was taught. "Jiuling Mu is a flying slave, which is surprising to everyone at that time." Zhang Jiuling was a politician and poet in the Tang Dynasty. He not only used carrier pigeons to deliver letters, but also gave the carrier pigeons a beautiful name - "Flying slaves." . Since then, in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, pigeons have always played an important role in people's communication life.

Kite Communication

The kites we use for entertainment today played an important role as an emergency communication tool in ancient times.

Legend has it that as early as the late Spring and Autumn Period, the master craftsman Gongshupan (i.e. Lu Ban) of the State of Lu imitated the shape of a bird, "cutting bamboo wood to make a magpie, and then it flew away without falling for three days." This kind of bamboo wood made of The flying "wooden magpie" made of wood was the predecessor of the kite. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cai Lun invented papermaking. People used bamboo strips to make frames and then papered them to become "paper kites". In the Five Dynasties, when people were making paper kites, they tied a bamboo whistle on them. When the wind blew the bamboo whistle, it sounded like a kite, and the word "kite" came from this.

The original kite was made for military needs. Its main purpose was for military reconnaissance or to convey information and military intelligence. After the Tang Dynasty, kites gradually became an entertainment toy and became popular among the people.

Lighthouse

Lighthouse originated from the signal beacon in ancient Egypt.

The world's earliest lighthouse was built in the 7th century BC. It is located on Cape Baba in the Daniel Strait and stands like a huge bell tower. At that time, people burned firewood in the lighthouse and used its firelight to guide the course.

In 280 BC, the ancient Egyptians were ordered by King Ptolemy II Philedelph to build a lighthouse on Pharos Island opposite Alexandria, Egypt. It was 85 meters high and burned wood day and night to illuminate the sky. Flames and columns of smoke serve as navigation aids. The Pharos Lighthouse is known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1302. At the beginning of the 9th century, France built a lighthouse on Duhan Reef at the mouth of the Gironde River. It has been rebuilt twice so far, and the current one was built in 1611.

Among the ancient lighthouses, the Legone Lighthouse in Italy is still in use today. This lighthouse was built in 1304 and is made of stone and 50 meters high. The first lighthouse in the United States was the Boston Lighthouse built in 1716. After that, a lens lighthouse was built in 1823, an electric lighthouse was built in 1858, the caisson method was used to build a lighthouse on soft foundation for the first time in 1885, and the first gas flash lighthouse was completed in 1906. In 1850, there were only 1,570 lighthouses in the world. In 1900, the number increased to 9,400. By early 1984, the total number of lighthouses, including other lighted navigation beacons, exceeded 55,000.

Communication Tower

In the 18th century, French engineer Claude Chape successfully developed a practical communication system that accelerated the speed of information transmission. The system consists of several communication towers established 230 kilometers between Paris and Lille. A wooden pillar was erected on the top of these towers, and a horizontal crossbar was installed on the wooden pillar. People could rotate the wooden pole and swing it to various angles under the operation of ropes. There are two vertical arms at both ends of the horizontal crossbar, which can also be rotated. In this way, each tower can form 192 different configurations through wooden poles, and nearby towers can use telescopes to see information representing 192 meanings. In this way, it is passed on in sequence, and it only takes 2 minutes to complete a message transmission within a distance of 230 kilometers. This system made great contributions in the French Revolutionary War in the 18th century.

Signal flags

Signal flags have been used for communication on ships for more than 400 years. The advantage of flag communication is that it is very simple. Therefore, even though modern communication technology is quite advanced today, this simple communication method is still retained and has become an important method of short-range communication. When communicating with signals, signal flags can be used alone or in combination to express different meanings. Usually a single flag is flown to indicate the most urgent, important or commonly used content. For example, flying the letter A flag means "there are divers under my ship, please move away from my ship slowly"; flying the letter O flag means "someone has fallen into the water"; flying the letter flag W means "my ship needs medical assistance" and so on.

Semaphore

During the 200 years between the 15th and 16th centuries, fleet commanders commanded their ships by firing cannons or raising sails. In 1777, Admiral Howe, commander of the British American Fleet, printed a signal manual and became the first person to write a signal book. Later, Admiral Sir Popham used some flags as "shorthand" letters and created a complete set of flag letters. In 1805, when Lord Nelson commanded the Battle of Trafalgar, the last signal he sent before his death was Popham Signal No. 16: "Sail to the enemy and fight at close range."

In 1817, Britain Captain Mariette of the Navy compiled the first internationally recognized book of signaling numbers. There are 40 Fanghai signal flags, including 26 letter flags, 10 number flags, 3 substitute flags and 1 answer flag. Flags come in different shapes: swallowtail, rectangular, trapezoid, triangle, etc. Flags also vary in color and pattern.

Modern:

Mobile phones, computers, business phones, telephones, radio, television, books, etc...

Language, eyes, gestures , mobile phones, computers, business phones, telephones, radio, television, books, the Internet, etc., there are too many

Fast delivery, online delivery, mobile phones, telephones, PHS, letters, express newspapers, Advertising

Sending emails, texting, making phone calls, sending faxes, video conferencing, satellite positioning, postal services such as QQ and other chat tools to transmit information, and other high-tech methods

Fast delivery, online delivery, mobile phone, phone , PHS, letters, express newspapers, advertisements, emails, text messages, phone calls, faxes, language, eyes, gestures, mobile phones, computers, business pain, telephone, radio, television, books, Internet