What is the origin and legend of Nian beast?

Synopsis: Nian beast is also called "Xi". It is an evil beast in ancient Han myths and legends. According to legend, in ancient times, at the end of the year and midnight, Nian beast would attack villages, and all the villages occupied by Nian beast were brutally slaughtered. People take advantage of Nian beast's three weaknesses, set off firecrackers, put up Spring Festival couplets and drive away Nian beast's attack. In order to prevent the Nian beast from harassing again, setting off firecrackers and posting Spring Festival couplets have gradually become holiday customs, and the Spring Festival has therefore become one of the symbols of the Chinese nation.

Detailed story: A long time ago, there was a monster named "Xi" who would come out every year to hurt people, and even the kitchen god could do nothing to protect the people, so the kitchen god invited a prodigy named "Nian" to heaven. The prodigy is very powerful. He wiped out the evening beast with the crackling red silk bamboo pole in the fire.

This day happens to be the last day of the twelfth lunar month. In order to thank and commemorate the New Year, people get rid of dusk on this day, so they call the last day of the lunar calendar "New Year's Eve" and the first day of the New Year's Day "New Year's Eve". People hope that every household has red silk and firecrackers, so the red silk and bamboo poles burned in the fire gradually evolved into red couplets and firecrackers that every household has in the New Year. This legend about Nian can be said to be clear and orderly.

Extended data:

In The Book of Songs Xiaoya Tingliao, there is a record of "the light of Tingliao". The so-called "pavilion" is a torch made of bamboo poles and the like. After the bamboo pole burns, the air in the bamboo joint expands, and the bamboo cavity bursts, making a crackling sound, which is the origin of "firecrackers".

However, villagers in some places don't know that Nian beast is afraid of red and is often eaten by Nian beast. This story was later spread to the sky of Wei Zi Xing Jun. In order to save people, he is determined to destroy Nian beast. One year the beast came out, knocked it down with a fireball and chained it to a stone pillar with a thick chain. Since then, "Nian" has been surrendered by people and has become a beneficial animal for the safety of towns and houses. Every New Year, people always burn incense, thanking Ziwei Xingjun for bringing peace to the lower world.