What are the "Top Ten Monsters in Guanzhong, Shaanxi" and what are their cultural implications?

Shaanxi is rich in historical background and cultural accumulation. People can often hear the expression "Ten eccentrics in Shaanxi", which intuitively summarizes ten kinds of folk customs formed by Shaanxi people for thousands of years. Their formation is directly related to the natural environment, economic situation, lifestyle and educational level.

In fact, "Ten Monsters in Shaanxi" refers to "Ten Monsters in Guanzhong, Shaanxi", because the customs in northern Shaanxi and southern Shaanxi are far from Guanzhong, which is not enough to summarize all the customs in Shaanxi. Specifically: noodles are like belts; A pot helmet is like a pot cover; A dish with spicy oil; Bowl and basin are difficult to separate; Wear a handkerchief on your head; Half of the house was covered; Girls are not external; Squat up without a chair; Sleeping pillow stone; Qin opera doesn't sing or shout.

Nowadays, with the continuous exchanges between different places and the blending of Shaanxi folk customs and foreign cultures, many customs among the top ten eccentrics have gradually disappeared and become historical memories.

How did the "Ten Monsters in Guanzhong, Shaanxi Province" come into being? What are the cultural connotations? As a Guanzhong person in Shaanxi, listen to me slowly.

First, noodles are like belts.

"Noodles like ribbons" refers to handmade noodles made by people in Guanzhong, Shaanxi Province, which are as wide as ribbons and as long as ribbons. It tastes smooth and delicious, and it is very hungry after eating.

Guanzhong area in Shaanxi Province is called "Eight Hundred Li Qinchuan", which is a small plain formed by the impact of Weihe River, the largest tributary of the Yellow River. Wheat has been abundant since ancient times, and it is also a very important commodity grain base of wheat in China.

In the past, due to the low degree of agricultural mechanization, all farm work was done by strength, which was particularly expensive for farmers. People must be strong before they can do more farm work.

Farmers will eat as wide and long handmade noodles as possible before going to work in the ground, and then work energetically, so that they won't feel hungry in a short time and help them do more farm work.

In the past, whether a girl in rural Shaanxi was excellent or not was judged by whether she could make handmade noodles with good color, smell and taste.

Second, a pot helmet is like a pot cover.

"Guo kui resembles a pot cover" refers to another kind of pasta made by Shaanxi people-Guo kui, which is big, round and thick, with a diameter of more than two feet and looks as big as a pot cover.

The pot helmet is slowly roasted in a large iron pot with a small fire. This is a crisp and sweet bread. Making the pot helmet so big has a lot to do with the large number of family members in rural areas of Shaanxi at that time.

In the past, a big family in rural Shaanxi often lived under one roof for four generations or even five generations. It takes a lot of ingredients, time and energy to cook a meal for more than a dozen people, big and small. So in order to reduce the workload of cooks, we seek to make it bigger and make a pot helmet that can be eaten by many people.

Third, spicy oil is a dish.

"Spicy oil with a dish" means that dried Chili powder can be eaten as a dish after being poured with hot oil.

Before cooking spicy oil, sesame, pepper, spiced powder, salt and other spices are often added to Chili powder. After it is done, the color is red and gratifying, and it looks very appetizing.

People in Guanzhong, Shaanxi usually eat steamed bread with chili pepper oil, and put chili pepper oil in steamed bread or pot helmet, which tastes spicy and delicious. In addition, noodles, cold noodles, bean jelly, stir-fry and other foods made with spicy oil can also enhance the taste and are very popular.

Fourth, it's hard to tell a bowl from a basin.

"Bowls and pots are hard to separate" means that people in Guanzhong, Shaanxi eat very large bowls, commonly known as "big old bowls", which are as difficult to separate as pots.

There were two main reasons why people in rural Shaanxi used to eat in big bowls.

First, it has something to do with the first monster "noodles are like ribbons", because the noodles themselves are too big to fit in a small bowl. It is more suitable to put it in a big old bowl.

The second is to save trouble, because people often do farm work, which consumes a lot of physical strength and leads to an increase in food intake. You can use a big bowl and an old bowl to hold a lot of noodles at a time, and you will be full after eating one bowl, which saves the trouble of holding rice for the second time.

Of course, the living conditions of rural people in Shaanxi are much better now than in the past, and it is rare to see the scene of eating in big bowls and old bowls. Some restaurants use big old bowls to hold meals, but they just sell nostalgia to customers.

Fifth, wear a handkerchief on your head.

"Handkerchief on the head" means that rural women used to wear handkerchiefs on their heads as hats.

Because the rural economic conditions were not good before, most people had no money to buy hats. In order to gain benefits, they will buy a relatively cheap handkerchief, which can be used as a hat, which can not only prevent sun, rain, dust and sand, but also be used to wipe sweat, reflecting a variety of uses.

Now people's economic conditions are many times better than in the past, and they can afford hats completely. There is no need to wear handkerchiefs on their heads. Wearing a handkerchief on your head has become history.

Six, the house is half covered

"Half-built house" refers to rural people in Shaanxi in the past. When building a house, they will tear it down from the roof and build it into a half-built house. Its shape is like splitting the word "zhong" from the middle.

The reason why people build houses like this is mainly because of the limited economic conditions, and there is not enough money to buy building materials such as wood and bricks. They can only use local materials and build it with loess, mud and a little wood.

However, due to the reduction of building space, half of the house is very warm and breathable, which is both economical and affordable. The living effect can be comparable to that of cave dwelling, which is warm in winter and cool in summer, and it is quite comfortable to live in.

Of course, it is hard to see this kind of house now, because of the improvement of people's living conditions, this kind of house has become a symbol of history.

Seven, the girl is not foreign.

"Girls are not open to the outside world" means that Shaanxi people in the past did not like to marry their daughters to other places.

There are two main reasons for this.

First, it is related to the conservative and closed thinking of Shaanxi people in the past. Because "the middle of Qin has been the capital of emperors since ancient times", the Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi Province was relatively rich in the past and has always existed as the center of politics, economy and culture. Shaanxi people are subjects who grew up at the foot of the son of heaven and have no worries about food and clothing. Some people look down on places outside Shaanxi, naturally they don't like foreign exchanges, and follow the principle of "rich water doesn't flow to outsiders".

Second, I attach great importance to the concept of mutual suitability. When I marry my daughter, I hope to marry someone who knows everything. However, due to the lack of communication, I am not familiar with foreigners, and I am even more reluctant to marry my daughter to other places.

At present, with the continuous communication between different places, people can meet people from all over the world, and "girls don't keep it to the outside world" has become a thing of the past.

Eight, don't squat in a chair.

"Squatting up without a chair" refers to some rural people in Shaanxi in the past. Even if there is a chair next to them, they don't like sitting in a chair, preferring to squat.

This is related to the character of Shaanxi people. Shaanxi men are unswerving, bold and unassuming, careless and like to be free. They think they need to sit in a chair and can't just sit down. These requirements will make them feel constrained, so they would rather squat than be constrained.

The scene of "squatting without a chair" is rare at present, and can only be seen occasionally in remote rural areas.

Nine, pillow stone

"Sleeping pillow stone" means that whenever summer comes, some people in Guanzhong, Shaanxi don't like to use soft pillows, but like to take out their own "treasures" and use a cold stone pillow or wooden pillow as a pillow, which is very fragrant to sleep on.

In fact, this situation is still very common in rural areas of Shaanxi, which can be said to be a fine tradition. According to the old man, the cool stone pillow helps people fall into deep sleep quickly and can massage their heads.

Ten, Qiang Qin play don't sing roar.

"Shaanxi Opera doesn't sing or shout" means that when listening to Shaanxi Opera, you feel that you are not singing but yelling.

The reason for this feeling is not only related to Shaanxi Guanzhong dialect, but also related to the artistic characteristics of Shaanxi Opera itself.

Shaanxi dialect has a strong pronunciation and a loud voice. Whether it is Shaanxi folk songs or Shaanxi local operas, singing in Shaanxi Guanzhong dialect has a bold and rough auditory feeling.

Most of the themes of Shaanxi Opera show the spirit of struggle and heroism, and the lyrics are desolate and full of momentum. In addition, Shaanxi Opera is equipped with cowhide drums, erhu, cymbals, gongs and other musical instruments, which increases the artistic tension of the atmosphere and is completely different from the gentle and euphemistic Jiangnan ditty. It sounds like a rock scream as a whole.

Today, Shaanxi Opera is still very popular in northwest China and is regarded as the best spiritual feast by the elderly.