The origin, evolution, development process of sacrificial furnace and its role in today's social life

Sacrificial stoves originated very early in China. There is a record of offering sacrifices to stoves in the Book of Rites. However, the date of offering sacrifices to stoves varies from temple to temple and from place to place. According to the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Yinzifang in Nanyang (in Henan Province) offered an antelope to the stove in the twelfth month, which was blessed by the kitchen god and made a fortune. Three generations flourished, and at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty (240- about 299) said, "Today is the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month in Wu Lu. It is said that God will be one year old the next day, so he prayed in advance. " . Fearing that the Kitchen God would speak ill of his family, Wu people would "drink to save lives" when offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God. Zongba (about 498-565) recorded that the custom of offering sacrifices to stoves in Jingchu area was on the twelfth day of the first month (December 8), "offering sacrifices to stoves with dolphin wine". Judging from the offerings of the stove, people's awe of this kitchen god who can make a snitch has been decreasing. Earlier, he carefully worshipped with sacrifices such as antelope and dolphin wine, and later he was simply drunk with wine. Since the Song Dynasty, Kitchen God has become the object of jokes. Song people used a kind of candy called "gum jelly" to worship the stove. I didn't mean to let the kitchen god say something sweet. Some people say that it is to make the kitchen god's teeth stick with sugar, and there is nothing to say. There is a so-called "sugar melon" in the common kitchen candy in the north, which is to dip wheat tooth candy in sesame seeds and make it into the shape of a gourd or melon. Another kind of "Guandong sugar" is made of glutinous rice flour and caramel, which is hard and crisp and can be kept for a long time.

Traditionally, by the end of the year, businesses have to settle accounts for the whole year. Therefore, sending stoves is also a time when debt collectors and debt collectors are in an endless stream. However, the most debt collection is New Year's Eve. After dinner, even if the debt is not collected, when the host and guest meet, they should bow their hands and congratulate each other. Therefore, there is a saying in the north: "Desperate kwantung sugar helps to pack jiaozi" (eat jiaozi on New Year's Eve), which describes this situation.

After the sacrifice, before the end of the year, we must choose a good day to do a general cleaning, commonly known as "sweeping the year". The custom of sweeping graves to celebrate the New Year has a long history. Cui ao (died in 1700) mentioned "fasting, eating and cleaning" in December in the "four-person monthly order". Before the annual cleaning, old-fashioned families should turn over the yellow calendar in advance and choose an auspicious day for the zodiac. Dust removal is not only to welcome the New Year, but also beneficial to environmental sanitation and health maintenance.

It is said that after a year of good and evil from Kitchen God to Qin people, 25th is the day when the gods came. He should check whether it is right or wrong, so as to bring misfortune and good luck. Therefore, on this day, everyone should be particularly cautious. In particular, children should be warned not to use foul language, so as not to cause ominous.

During the five days from 25th to New Year's Eve, because family and God went to heaven and everything was forgiven, many people held weddings in these days.

Festival of offering sacrifices to stoves

Henan folks pay attention to "offering sacrifices to stoves at home", and there is a saying that "the whole family will come without offering sacrifices to stoves". When offering sacrifices to the stove, everyone outside must rush back. In eastern Henan and other places, the godmother's adopted son and daughter are recognized at the Festival of Sacrifice to the Kitchen Stove, and they should also bring kitchen candy, biscuits, firecrackers, incense sticks and a rooster to attend the ceremony of Sacrifice to the Kitchen Stove to show that they are full members of the Godmother.

kitchen god

Zhang Kui, a legendary bricklayer, was regarded as a kitchen god by many people in Henan, saying that his kitchen stove was well built and he became a kitchen god after his death. Legend has it that "the kitchen god is in charge of good and evil on earth, and good words from heaven can ensure that there will be no disaster in the coming year." The position of the folk kitchen god in Henan is mostly located on the back wall of the kitchen, and the paintings of the kitchen god are mostly printed in Zhuxian Town. In the middle of the painting is the kitchen god and his wife, with Yuyu Temple on their heads. The calendar of one year and the 24 solar terms of the lunar calendar are printed below, indicating how many dragons are needed to control water and how many days it will take. In the middle of the bottom is a cornucopia, with the Eight Immortals on the outside, a golden couple to be erected on the left and right, and six animals on both sides, commonly known as "the main memorial tablet of the old stove".

Sacrificial stove soup and candy

People in Henan province have always been men offering sacrifices to stoves. According to folklore, the moon is yin and the kitchen ruler is yang, so "men don't sacrifice the moon and women don't sacrifice the stove". But in Anyang and other places, there are housewives. On the night of the kitchen sacrifice, the family made a "kitchen sacrifice soup" with tofu, vermicelli, Chinese cabbage and kelp. , and served the old chef's grandfather's memorial tablet, and then served sesame cakes made of sugar paste or wheat sugar, called "kitchen sacrifice sugar." Because "the kitchen god died in the dark, it is a crime to stick sugar cakes on the kitchen god's mouth during the sacrifice." Some even burned eighteen fires, put a rooster with wings in front of the kitchen god, and put some grass and beans to "see what God is". When offering sacrifices to the stove, the priest first sprinkled wine on the comb of a rooster, then burned incense and lit candles and set off firecrackers in front of the altar. Priests recite prayers with various contents, all of which are words of asking for help and praying. After the prayer, remove the statue of Kitchen God from the wall, gently wipe it on your mouth with kitchen candy, put it on paper and burn it immediately, and shout "Send Kitchen God to ride to heaven" at the same time, and the sacrifice is over.

Put some grain in the barn as a sign of good luck/wish (good harvest)

After the sacrifice, the whole family, old and young, will enjoy sacrificial candy, cakes and * * * dinner. In Shangcai and other places, vegetarian food such as noodles is often the main food for dinner, and the more you eat, the better, which is commonly known as "stuffing".

The end of the year

Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, the festival of offering sacrifices to stoves was also a sad day for poor families, which was called "the end of the year". At this time, the landlord sent more people to poor families to collect debts. Some people who can't pay their debts have to hide out. This is called "hiding in the year". They didn't go home until the 30th anniversary. Because there is a custom that outsiders can't enter the house after the 30 th anniversary, it is called "sacrifice the stove to save lives."

Age preparation

After the festival of offering sacrifices to stoves, people think that "God is evil, all are forgiven" and there is no need to choose a date for marriage. It can be the 23rd to 30th. Therefore, there are many people holding wedding gifts at this time. After the Kitchen Festival, every household began to clean up, and the 24th was called "Dusting Day". People took a bath and had their hair cut, "Sweeping the Year" and "Dusting", and arranged various Chinese New Year foods at the same time. The New Year's Eve Song sung by folk children says, "Twenty-three people sacrifice stoves, twenty-four people sweep houses, twenty-five people grinding bean curd, twenty-six people cut meat, twenty-seven people kill chickens, twenty-eight people buy flowers, twenty-nine people sell wine, and thirty-year-old children all pinch their noses (including jiaozi)" or "Twenty-six people steam steamed buns, twenty-seven people shave fine seeds (get a haircut) and twenty-eight people scrape melons (get a haircut late).