When did the ancient Chinese start bathing?

China has a long history of bathing, as early as 3,000 years ago in the era of Yin and Shang, the oracle bone inscriptions have bathing records. There is also a record in the Rites of Zhou that "there is a bath in the king's bedchamber". By the Spring and Autumn Period, our people had begun to use specialized equipment for bathing. In the Southern Liang Dynasty, Emperor Xiao Gang wrote three volumes of "Bathing Scriptures", which is the earliest monographs on bathing found in China so far.

According to historical records, in 334 A.D., Shi Hu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty built the "Dragon Warming Pool" in Yecheng, which was the earliest large-scale private bath in China. The famous hot spring bath "Huaqing Pond" in Lintong, Xi'an, was built in the Tang Dynasty.

To the Song Dynasty, with the prosperity of business, business public **** bathroom came into being. Song Dynasty Wu Zeng's "can change Zhai Man Records", there are "public in the bath, must hang pots in the door" record, indicating that the Song Dynasty public **** bathroom also hangs a sign to attract customers. Not only that, there has been a customer back rubbing full-time service personnel, they are very popular with the bathers. By the 16th century, our public **** bathroom is quite common.

Expanded Information

Bathing is closely linked to the behavioral norms of people's lives. When living at home, men and women had to get up early and bathe and change their clothes. According to China's many sources found that the ancient people are much more hygienic than we think, the Qin and Han Dynasties, has formed the habit of washing the hair every three days and bathing every five days. So much so that the official government gave a day off every five days, also known as "rest and bathe".

The rite stipulated that the younger generation should boil warm water for their parents to take a bath once every five days, and boil warm water for their parents to wash their heads once every three days. During this period, if the parents' face is dirty, they have to burn rice water to wash it clean for their parents; if their feet are dirty, they have to use warm water to wash it clean for their parents.

The ancients also used pancreas, bath beans to bathe. In the Tang Dynasty, the pancreas also has the role of frostbite cream. Higher-grade ones were called "face medicine" and "mouth fat" and were used to coat the face and mouth. They were given to officials in the palace in winter.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Bathing (Chinese Vocabulary)

Baidu Encyclopedia - Bathing (Basic Meaning)