The Origin and Legend of Xiaoman

The origin of Xiao Man

Twenty-four solar terms: "In mid-April, things are small and full." At this time, the seeds of summer sowing crops such as wheat in the north have begun to be full, but they are not yet mature, which is about the late stage of milk ripening, so it is called Xiaoman. Agricultural proverbs in southern China give Xiaoman a new meaning: "Xiaoman is not satisfied with the broken ridge"; "Little people are full of discontent, regardless of mangoes." The word "full" is used to describe the amount of rain, and it is pointed out that if there is not enough water in the field when it is full, the ridge may crack and even rice cannot be planted when it is planted.

Xiaoman is one of the twenty-four solar terms and the second solar term in summer. Every year from May 20th to 22nd, when the sun reaches the longitude of the Yellow River at 60 degrees, it is a little full. Small fullness means that the seeds of summer crops are full, but not yet mature, just a little full, but not yet full.

2. Xiaoman solar term is the prelude to harvest, and the prelude of summer harvest, summer sowing, Shimonoseki and three summer busy days has been opened since then, which is another busy season for farmers. During this period, it is necessary to always pay attention to the attack of "dry and hot wind", otherwise the annual harvest will be threatened.

The legend of xiaoman

Once upon a time, there was a family with only father and daughter. The daughter is not only beautiful, but also smart. On this day, my father had something to go far away, leaving his daughter and a white horse. This horse is very strong, running thousands of miles every day, as fast as the wind. Stranger still, this horse is very familiar with human nature, and it can understand people's words. Everyone says this is a "god horse".

When the father went out, he told his daughter to feed and love the horse well, and he would come back soon. After my father left, this horse was the only one left at home to accompany my daughter. Whenever she feels lonely, she talks to the horse. Although the horse can't talk, it will nod and wag its tail to show affection. As the days passed, my father never came back. My daughter misses her father very much and is more worried about what will happen if her father has an affair.

One day, she said to the horse half seriously and half jokingly, "Ma, do you understand me?" If you can get my father back, I will marry you as my wife. "Unexpectedly, the girl voice down, the horse ran away and disappeared. It turned out that my father was sick in the distance and was worried about how to get back, but suddenly he found his horse running, which was very surprising. Father rode home because he was too worried about his daughter and didn't think much.

When I got home, I was very happy when my long-lost father and daughter got together. Father felt that the horse had made great contributions, so he specially added grass and carefully fed it. But to his father's surprise, he was fed a lot of fine grass and forage, but the horse refused to eat a bite. Whenever he sees his daughter coming in and out, the horse will not only sing by the neck, but also jump around and make a sound of joy or anger. The father secretly asked his daughter what was going on. So the daughter told her father what she said to the horse.

After listening to this, my father felt very uneasy. He thought for a moment and whispered to his daughter, "Remember, this matter must not be made public. What would it be like if people knew I married my daughter to a horse? Don't leave the house for a while, and don't go to see the horse. " The next day, my father put a crossbow around the stable and shot the horse when it was unprepared. Then he peeled off the horse's skin and hung it on a big stone in the yard.

One day, my daughter and the girl friend next door were playing in the yard. She was very sad when she saw the dried horse skin on the stone. She reached out and touched the mane on the horse skin. At this time, the accident happened. The horse skin suddenly split and swept her away like a gust of wind. The female companion on the side was frightened and hurried to tell her father. When the father arrived, the daughter and the horse skin basking in the stone had already disappeared without a trace.

It turned out that Shenma skin swept away the lovely girl and went straight to the southwest. In the far southwest, there is a place called Hu Da, which is a desolate wilderness and the mountains are covered with mulberry trees. But when she got there, the girl in horse skin lost her original shape and became a silkworm with the shape of a horse's head and climbing on a tree. She only eats mulberry leaves. Later, she became the owner of this mulberry forest, and the emperor named her the silkworm god.

Faced with this kind of experience, the girl has unspeakable pain. She misses her hometown, her father and her companions day and night. Whenever this time, she will constantly spit out filaments from her mouth, with endless thoughts. Every spring, you can see a beautiful young woman kneeling on the branches of mulberry trees, constantly spitting out white and bright filaments. People affectionately call her the silkworm god girl.

The custom of solar terms in Xiao Man

Bitter vegetables relieve summer heat

"Zhou Shu" said: Bitter vegetables show on the day of Xiaoman. Sophora alopecuroides, as one of the earliest edible wild vegetables, is spread all over the country. Although the names vary from place to place, the nutritional components and medicinal value are the same.

Pray for "Sacrificing Three Gods"

Xiaoman has the saying of "moving three cars", which refers to waterwheels, ox carts and silk carts.

"Sacrificing to the Three Gods" refers to offering sacrifices to the gods who are in charge of the three cars in Xiaoman season, praying for the blessing of the gods, good weather and abundant crops.

Celebrate the birthday of the silkworm god

According to legend, Xiaoman is the birthday of the silkworm god. Therefore, on Xiaoman Festival, people who raise silkworms should celebrate the birthday of the silkworm god.

Xiaoman season is early summer, and cocoon reeling is waiting for picking. In order to have a good harvest and express gratitude to the silkworm god, the silkworm family will hold a grand ceremony to celebrate the birthday of the silkworm god.

choose

Black pomfret can be caught in the waters near Changhua, Taiwan Province, and flying fish can be caught in Suao, the northeastern and southern waters. Bananas in Qishan, Meinong and other places in Kaohsiung County have entered a rich period. Taiwan Province Province is a famous banana producing area, and many bananas are exported to all parts of the world every year.