Why hang a bow on the left side of the door?

After the child is born, if it is a boy, hang a bow on the left side of the door, and if it is a girl, hang a scarf on the right side of the door.

The Manchu people have an ancient tradition of nomadic hunting, and they highly value male martial arts. In a Manchu family, if a boy is born, a small bow and arrow will be hung on the left frame of the door. The bow and arrow are about one foot long and made of bamboo skin, which indicates that the baby will be born.

It is believed that when the boy grows up, he will become a brave shooter with strong martial arts skills.

If a girl is born, the family will hang a red or blue cloth strip on the right frame of the door, and call this strip of cloth "Taha patch" to symbolize good luck.

Extended information This custom of the Manchu people was first recorded in the "Book of Rites": "When a child is born, a man will place an arc on the left side of the door, and a woman will place a bow on the right side of the door." The "arc" here refers to the bow, and "娨"

It refers to the veil worn on the body, which means that if a boy is born, a bow will be hung on the left side of the door, and if it is a girl, a handkerchief will be hung on the right side of the door.

Bows and arrows are an important symbol of ancient folk culture. In ancient times, men were required to learn horseback riding and archery from an early age, and it was advocated that men on the left were respected and women on the right were humbled. Therefore, hanging bows and arrows on the left side of the door means that the newborn is a boy.

In addition, in ancient times, women could not be disturbed when giving birth. The child could only be carried out of the delivery room after "bathing three times". Bows and arrows or cloth strips were hung on the door to announce to people whether the newborn was a boy or a girl. This ritual was called "hanging"

Bow hanging silk".

At the same time, this method can also remind peddlers, blacksmiths and people carrying sounders to keep quiet so as not to disturb mothers and babies.