"With guns and dogs" or "Everything depends on hands", what is the life of hunters in ancient Shu?

Introduction:

Yang Xiong of the Han Dynasty said in his Biography of the King of Shu: "A fish grows on a hill and becomes immortal. This temple is dedicated to the temple. At that time, Shu people were scarce. " "Tian" is hunting, so it can be seen that there was a hunting nation in ancient Sichuan. Later, Shu people gradually went from hunting in mountainous areas to fishing in Chengdu Plain, and gradually turned to farming life. However, some ancestors still stayed in the mountains and engaged in hunting, which was passed down from generation to generation. They hunt according to local conditions and mountains, and there are many forms of witchcraft in their hunting life, so they are also called? Witch hunting? .

the hunting tradition of ancient Shu people

the hunting tradition of ancient Shu? Witch hunting? , mainly distributed in the western edge of Sichuan basin today. The direction extends from the northeast to the southwest, starting from Gannan and Tangjiahe in Qingchuan, Sichuan in the north, the Longmen Mountains between Mianyang, Chengdu, Ya 'an and Aba and Ganzi in the middle, and the Qionglai Mountains where Ya 'an and Ganzi meet in the south, stretching for thousands of miles. In the meantime, the mountains are undulating and towering, the forests are dense and the ecology is rich. It is the distribution place of many national forest parks in China, and it naturally nourishes generations of ancestors who make a living by hunting.

The densely forested western mountain area of Shu

Ancient Shu? Witch hunting? There are two main hunting customs, one is "carrying a gun and a dog", and the other is "everything depends on hands"!

"With guns and dogs"

In this hunting mode, hunters carry guns and dogs, and often travel together, but they are afraid to count the number of people and dogs. Traveling and hunting together is also called driving mountains and encirclement. There are also cases where one person or two people are guarding the crops while shooting wild animals. In addition to dogs being used for detection and hunting, what are the main hunting tools for mountain people? A gun? This? A gun? In ancient times, guns, arrows, crossbows, etc. After the invention of firearms in the Ming and Qing dynasties, mountain people gradually began to use them? Firearms? , mostly soil guns, simple to manufacture, not accurate but fierce. In the old society, the blacksmith beat a round iron bar into a round caliber, with a thin barrel, a thick base and a hollow tube in the middle, and tied it to a wooden handle as the gun bore. Self-made black powder, iron sand, iron bars, etc. are stuffed into the gun bore, lead wires are installed in the gun bore, and the lead wires are lit to detonate the powder in the gun bore when igniting. Due to the expansion of the explosion, air billow was pushed, and the iron sand and iron bars in the barrel were quickly pushed out, forming a radial nozzle, which could cause great harm to the prey. With a gun and a dog? The hunting momentum is relatively large. Generally, experienced old hunters are optimistic about the areas frequented by wild animals. The hunters howl, fire guns or drive away dogs to form a momentum and drive the frightened wild animals to narrow valleys or areas where traps are buried in advance. Once the beast enters the encirclement, the hunters will shoot at the opportunity and catch up with it. When the prey is exhausted, it can be easily captured.

after hunting wild animals, the main shooters are divided into animal heads and skins, while the meat is shared by those who see it. There is a "Meishan meeting" for this kind of hunter, and the eleventh day of the lunar winter month is the session, and the elders preside over the worship of Meishan God.

according to folklore, in ancient times, the Chiyou tribe fought a decisive battle with the Huangdi tribe, and Chiyou was able to drive birds and beasts, which once dominated, but was finally defeated and captured. Chiyou was beheaded, but his soul still refused to surrender, and returned to Xuefeng Mountain to become a god, in charge of the birds and animals in Xuefeng Mountain, and gradually became the originator of the hunter industry.

The Meishan God worshipped by hunters in ancient Shu is the Seven Saints of Meishan. They are friends and assistants of Erlang God. On the forehead of the Laole Building of the Erwang Temple in Dujiangyan, there is a picture of Li Bing, Erlang and Meishan fighting rhinoceros, which better reflects the tradition of hunting in ancient Shu. When the mountain people hunt wild animals such as old bears, wild boar and leopards, they will return their wishes to the nearest mountain temple. Those far away from the temple are built on the spot with stones as mountain gods, and sacrificed with animal heads and incense sticks. The elder wants to recite the message:

"Disciples respectfully invite their ancestors to go up to King Hu of Meishan in Dongdong, King Li of Meishan in Zhongdong and King Zhao of Meishan in Xiadong. There are 72 generals going up the mountain and 7 Erlang going down the river; Whistle the wind and call the dog Jiro; Inform the boy, support the fire husband; Every hair eats five cabins, and every blood eats five cabins. Everyone who breaks the temple in the cold mountain is invited to the general manager of this altar to receive blood food. Please share it equally with the local ancient sages and site owners, and everyone who sees it will have a share. "

After the sacrifice ceremony, the hunters began to divide the animal meat, and thanked them and went home.

"Everything depends on hands"

This is a hunting method without tools. Hunters hunt by natural means without hunting rifles or dogs, which is also called "Montenegro". Hunters only use ropes, traps, ground crossbows, etc. to catch wild animals when they go up the mountain. The wizard who is in charge is called "hanging the road". They are familiar with the magic of cutting mountains and urging mountains in Montenegro, which are collectively called "three unique skills of striking mountains". ? Hanging the road? There are many ways to set traps, such as? An arrow lifts the pressure plate? And? Rope? . An Jian? Choose the only way for wild animals, bend the small trunk into an arch, tie the two ends with a rope, and hang an arrow or blade coated with poison in advance. When the beast passed by, he touched the trip line and shot it with an arrow. Plate lifting pressure? Choose a place where wild animals often pass by, dig a small pit shallowly, and set up a slate with branches and bamboo poles. The slate should not be too light, otherwise it can't hold down the wild animals, nor can it be too heavy, otherwise it will easily lead to organ failure. Hang a bait in a shallow pit, the wild animals will eat meat in the pit, touch branches and bamboo poles, and the slate will fall down to close the pit, so the wild animals can't escape. Rope? The use of is also relatively wide, and there are two kinds of clear sets and hidden sets. First, install a cover, choose ditches, grass and crevices with poor light, and set a noose in the place where wild animals often pass. The noose is a slipknot, and once the limbs of wild animals step into it, they can only tighten and not relax until their hooves are tied to death. The other is to install a concealed cover, that is, choose the crossing where the wild animals must pass, dig a hole in the ground, select a suitable small trunk next to the hole, stretch and bend it, tie one end of the rope to it, and put the rope cover at the other end in the hole, then cover it with leaves and thin soil to cover its shape. When the wild animals pass by the touch mechanism, the tree poles will straighten and lift it.

these "hanging paths" will not only? An arrow lifts the pressure plate? And? Rope? And they will be fascinated by Maico, that is, they can pinch and calculate, and they are unpredictable. They go into the mountains in advance to observe the footprints and feces of wild animals, so as to master the routes and laws of wild animals. According to the change of weather in the mountains, choose the time in Montenegro. According to the wind direction, choose the location of the fire and the location in Montenegro.

The day before I went up the mountain, I ordered my disciples to cut firewood first, with 6 backs for large Montenegro and 3 backs for small Montenegro. "Hanging the Road" personally chose the place where the trap was set, and crushed it with the leaves of "Rhubarb Flower" (Rhododendron amurensis). While walking, I read a spell and scattered it in the footprints of wild animals. It is said that the leaves with spells can lead wild animals into traps or ropes.

In the evening, the "Hanging Road" dressed in cassock sat by the fireplace, praying to the gods with pious feelings, asking them to forgive their sins and protect him from returning home safely. When praying to God, I repeatedly recited "Playing Folk Songs" handed down by my ancestors. It's very interesting, and one of the lyrics is:

"It's not that I like killing, it's not that I'm too cruel;

Just because I am hungry, just because I am cold;

Dear God, please forgive your descendants!

one by one, I have no choice but to give up.

Mountain-beating people also have a life. Mountain-beating people are not Shan Gui but mortals.

Hehehe, I have clothes to wear when I skin it.

I have something to eat when I cut its meat. I only have to borrow its life to support my life and its "blade" to worship ghosts and gods! "

The next day, it was time to go up the mountain. "Hanging the Road" took 7749 paper money, a knife head and two small dough figurines and walked into the mountain forest. Before sunset, he rushed to the big stump selected in advance to represent the mountain god in his mind. He grabbed a handful of dead branches and green vines and wrapped them around the stump, which was called "binding the mountain god". Then he spread out the knife head, lit the paper money, fell on his knees and began to tell the mountain god:

"Today, my disciple is in trouble, so I'm here to tell the mountain god.

I hope that the Great God will be gracious and give me a wild boar, an old bear and a deer, and how much I will give depends on the mercy of the Great God.

I dare not forget my great kindness and virtue, and burn more incense in the future. "

After the ceremony, I packed my offerings and went straight to the pre-selected place, where the firewood had been packed. "Hanging the Road" took the machete that the apprentice had already sharpened, and wielded it to cut off the bamboo on the ground, leaving the bamboo pile five inches long and pointed upward, which was called "Wumei Pile". "Hanging the road" immediately commanded to lay the lasso and install the trap.

When everything was ready, he lay down on the floor until midnight, when "Hanging Road" jumped up, he made the apprentice light a fire and took off his clothes in a hurry until he was naked. It is said that only in this way can the ghost be afraid. Disciples kept burning paper in front of the nearby fire, and "hanging the road" began to somersault and do things on the Wumei pile, so the sharp bamboo tip could not pierce the flesh. He roared, whistled and the fire raged. At the same time, "hanging the road" made the little noodle man put by the fire start fighting. The noodle man turned red and black, such as the red noodle man winning, indicating good luck, and "hanging the road" was full of energy. If the black-faced man wins, it indicates trouble, and "hanging the road" will make him fight again.

When all the forty-nine knives of paper money are burned, "Diaolu" gets up and walks to the water bowl. The water bowl is placed on a nearby stump or flat stone, symbolizing Haizi, and a chopstick is placed on it, symbolizing the wooden bridge. Driven by the magic of "hanging the road", many beasts set foot on this bridge one after another and headed for the trap. The hanging road laughed proudly and quickly took off the chopsticks, indicating that the bridge was broken and the mountain god was helpless.

Before the cock crows, the mountain forest returns to silence, and "hanging the road" leans on the fire and waits for the morning. At that time, you can count your prey, deliver it to the mountain god, and untie the mountain god. Of course, you can't help but describe your guilt and difficulties.

The "Diaolu" are hard and soft on the mountain gods, and even bind the mountain gods and force them to submit, but "Diaolu" will never kill or catch them indiscriminately. Its creed is "you can only eat enough, not have more than enough." The creed in their hearts is "black" a mountain and short life. When wild animals give birth, Montenegro will also be punished by childlessness. These eccentric "hanging paths" are pious and cunning people before God. In front of people, there is an elusive "God".

Conclusion:

Whether it is "with guns and dogs" or "with hands", the hunting of ancient Shu people is the result of the full running-in between man and nature. They should not only maintain their lives but also kill greed indiscriminately. Especially, the singing of "Playing Mountain Songs" and "Hanging the Road" in front of the trap vividly reflects the simple life attitude of ancient Shu hunters, which is full of life flavor. These hunting folk customs embody a practical way, which is a special means for ancient Shu ancestors to control nature. It not only believes in animism, but also affirms the strength of human beings, showing a kind of self-confidence and frankness in treating nature.

(Personal opinion, welcome to pay attention! )