Since the reform and opening up, with the strengthening of the country's economic strength and the improvement of people's living standards, the ways to celebrate birthdays have become more and more diversified: there are traditional poached eggs and longevity noodles in China, as well as cakes and candles in western culture; Happy birthday to you is also sung in more and more families. More and more rich foods appear on the dining table. Compared with our modern birthday ways, the birthday ways and motivations of Qing people are quite different. Next, let's take a look at how the Qing people celebrated their birthdays. What are the reasons for people's birthdays in Qing Dynasty?
First, the Qing Dynasty palace birthday etiquette
In the birthday ceremony of Qing people, the most grand and standard nature is the birthday of the Emperor of the Ninth Five-Year Plan.
The Qing Dynasty followed the etiquette of Tang and Song Dynasties and took the birthday of the emperor as a national holiday. The birthday of the emperor was designated as Wanshou Festival, the birthday of the empress dowager was designated as Shengshou Festival, and the birthday of the empress was designated as Qian Qiu Festival. Among them, the emperor's? Wanshou Festival? The Qing court with the most solemn etiquette, which is as famous as New Year's Day and Winter Solstice? Three quarters? . Especially the tenth birthday of the emperor, the whole country will celebrate it.
The general etiquette of Wanshou Festival is: on this day, a big court meeting will be held. The emperor first went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, which was usually the place where important ceremonies were held, and was greeted by the king, Baylor, Beizi, civil and military officials and foreign envoys. Then move to the Qing Palace (where the emperor called ministers when he had something important or important) and accept gifts from the prince, the emperor's grandson, the queen and the princess.
Everyone who congratulates his birthday needs to contribute a birthday present to the emperor. Birthday gifts generally include wishful thinking, longevity Buddha, calligraphy and painting, pearl room, gold and silver products, etc. Birthday gifts are generally grouped into nine pieces, called? Nineteen? . Gundam? Jiujiu? (8 1 piece). In addition, a few days before and after the Wanshou Festival, the imperial court banned the slaughter of livestock, and the yamen could not hear cases of criminals' names. According to etiquette, ministers of civil and military affairs should wear embroidered robes. What is this called? Flowering period? .
In the history of the Qing Dynasty, there were two biggest birthday ceremonies for Wanshou Festival: one was on March 18th, the fifty-second year of Kangxi (17 13), the 60th birthday of Emperor Kangxi; Once was August 13th, the 50th anniversary of Qianlong (1790), when Qianlong celebrated his eightieth birthday.
On March 17, the fifty-second year of Kangxi, Emperor Kangxi returned to the Forbidden City from Changchun Garden under the escort of civil and military officials, and set up a halogen book. Twenty-five people, the prince and grandson, helped him walk. From Changchun Garden to Shenwumen, on both sides of dozens of roads along the way, the government organized people to decorate lanterns, kneel down to meet drivers, and built more than 20 dragon sheds and stages. Kangxi issued a letter to his subjects and gave thousands of seats to wine and fruit. On Longevity Day, a grand rally was held, and people from all over the country came to pay tribute to the emperor. They all lined up outside Tiananmen Square from the noon gate.
Earlier, Emperor Kangxi told the world that the elderly, whether officials or people, people over 65 years old can go to Beijing to attend the banquet in Changchun Garden. On March 25th, Emperor Kangxi held it in front of the main gate of Changchun Garden? A thousand feasts? Banquet for 33 ministers, officials and scholars of Han nationality over 90 years old, 538 over 80 years old, 65,438+0,823 over 70 years old and 65,438+0,846 over 65 years old. /kloc-princes, grandchildren and descendants of imperial families over 0/0 and under 20 were ordered to toast and share food with the old people. Old people over the age of 80 were also helped to the front of Emperor Kangxi and given a glass of wine to show their favor. On March 27th and 28th, Kangxi hosted a banquet at the main entrance of Changchun Garden and in front of Taihou Palace to entertain ministers, officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners over 65 years old and idlers of the Eight Banners over 70 years old.
As early as July of the fifty-fifth year of Qianlong, the ceremonial activities to congratulate Qianlong on his 80th birthday began. Qianlong first convened Mongolian and other tribal leaders and foreign envoys to hold a celebration in chengde mountain resort. Then, Emperor Qianlong returned to Beijing and went to Yuanmingyuan. He imitated his grandfather Kangxi and ordered people to hang red and green on the way from Yuanmingyuan to Xihuamen to set up colorful sheds for the scenic spots.
On August 12th, Emperor Qianlong came back to the palace, and the court organized the people to kneel down to meet him and compete for songs and dances. On August 13, a dazzling array of jewels, jade ruyi, golden Buddha and coral trees about 3 feet high were displayed on both sides of the steps of the main hall. After the courtiers congratulated him, the concubines celebrated his birthday in the palace and held a birthday party in Gan Qing Palace. During the dinner, the prince and grandson danced in different colors according to their seniority, age and costumes.
In case of the tenth birthday of the emperor, or local officials are unable to go to Beijing to celebrate their birthday in person because of their low rank or heavy responsibilities, various birthday ceremonies will be held in the local area: building the CCB Palace, repairing temples, setting up a stage to sing operas, and setting up an altar to recite scriptures. To express everyone's admiration and praise for the whole world.
Celebrate the birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi? Birthday Although there are also subjects kneeling to greet the Queen Mother, decorating lanterns, singing operas, and giving birthday presents by civil and military officials, how do they compare with the emperor? Wanshou Festival? , obviously slightly inferior.
In history of qing dynasty, for the grand birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi, the etiquette specification is no less than that of the emperor? Wanshou Festival? About twice. Once in November of the 18th year of Qianlong (1752), Emperor Qianlong celebrated the 60th birthday of his mother, the Empress Dowager Chongqing. Today, the Palace Museum's collection of "Xi Picture of Ci Yanning" and "Picture of Long Life" truly depicts the birthday celebration at that time.
One was at the end of Qing Dynasty, when Empress Dowager Cixi was preparing for her 60th birthday (1894165438+1October 7th, the 10th day of the 10th lunar month). The imperial court raised more than 654.38 million taels of silver for the birthday celebration. In July, the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 broke out, the Qing army was defeated and the Beiyang Navy was wiped out. The Qing court was forced to sign treaty of shimonoseki, which humiliated the country. Empress Dowager Cixi also had to cancel all kinds of extravagant celebrations on September 25th and spent her 60th birthday celebration in Ningshou Palace.
1904, the Qing court splurged on the seventieth birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi. What caused it? Sue reported it? And Zhang Taiyan, who was arrested and imprisoned, is also full of grief and indignation in Shanghai? West prison? Write down the irony handed down for a while? First couplet? ：
Go to Nanyuan today, Beihai tomorrow, and when will you go to Gu Chang 'an again? Sigh CoCo Lee ointment blood, just sing for one person.
Fifty to Ryukyu, sixty to Taiwan Province Province, and now three northeastern provinces! Tongchi county, anxious, every long life, Xinjiang has no wish.
The etiquette of the Qing Empress Qian Qiu Festival is relatively simple. On her birthday, the queen first saluted the emperor and the empress dowager. Then, he returned to the palace to accept the palace gifts from the prince and his concubine. Although the birthday party was held, the etiquette standard was far lower than that of the emperor and empress dowager.
Concubine, promise, often wait for the birthday etiquette of the emperor's concubine to be simpler. Usually only maids and eunuchs who serve them are here to salute them and offer birthday wishes.
Second, the folk birthday custom in Qing Dynasty.
Birthday in Qing Dynasty became a common custom. No matter the dignitaries or ordinary people, when the elders' birthdays come, they will hold birthday celebrations of different specifications at home.
When rich and powerful people celebrate their birthdays, emperors, dignitaries, relatives and friends who usually come and go will send all kinds of valuable gifts. When A Dream of Red Mansions describes the 80th birthday, the prince, Xu and officials are all polite. There is a constant stream of people giving birthday presents? . The emperor gave Yujin a handle, four colored satin heads, four Yujin cups and 520 pieces of silver. Yuan Chun presented a golden statue of the birthday girl, a ring of agarwood and a string of carnations. The Jia family put a big console table in the hall, covered with a red carpet, and put beautiful and precious things in gifts for the old lady to see.
If the elders are 60 or 80 years old, rich and powerful families usually set up birthday halls, light candles and celebrate birthdays. Wearing a shroud, the birthday girl sits in the nave and receives birthday wishes from relatives, friends and younger generations. A Dream of Red Mansions records that Jia Mu lived for 8 days on her 80th birthday. During the period, Ning He? Hang lanterns, open couples' screens and put hibiscus on the mattress; The gongs and drums are loud, and the streets are horizontal? . Ordinary officials and rich people also try their best to decorate their houses, entertain guests and friends and celebrate the birthdays of their elders. During the Tongzhi period, Ye Tingqing, a magistrate of a county in Shanghai, celebrated his mother's birthday, and lanterns were hung everywhere in the county government. The day before a birthday is a wish, and a birthday is a birthday. Birthday banquets are divided into upper and lower levels, and guests and friends who come to celebrate their birthdays sit and drink according to their status. Space shuttle flight attendants, chefs, tea makers and other handymen will also be rewarded with longevity noodles.
In the birthday activities of rich and powerful people, acting has also been added to create a festive atmosphere. In the Qing Dynasty, people celebrated their birthdays with performances such as the Eight Immortals Birthday in Yaochi, the Peach Birthday in Jinniang and the Fairy Birthday Celebration.
Ordinary people are limited by their economic strength, so it is generally easier to celebrate their birthdays. Usually, there is a birthday hall at home, and the younger generation gives birthday gifts to the elders, such as birthday peaches, birthday couplets, birthday cakes, birthday noodles and so on. Then pay homage to the birthday girl and finally eat birthday noodles.
Third, Ming Shou.
In the Qing dynasty, tradition? Ming Shou? Etiquette and customs still prevail.
Ming Shou, also known as? Yin shou? 、? Ming and Qing dynasties? That is, grandparents and parents who have passed away have birthdays. Popular Edited by Zhai Hao in Qing Dynasty? Celebration? Yin Shou quoted Lv Yao's Lu Shu as saying: The day of death is a secret taboo, and the birthday is a definite taboo. It is extremely important to avoid it in middle school. Kissing the birthday of the deceased, such as 50 or 60, is still the pursuit of life. People have talent, just like saving the world. ?
When people celebrated their birthdays in the Qing Dynasty, some ceremonies were almost the same as when their elders were alive, such as setting up a birthday hall, children and grandchildren wearing colorful clothes, birthday peaches, birthday noodles, birthday couplets, seasonal cakes and fresh fruits. Birthday people hold banquets to entertain guests and friends who come to celebrate their birthdays; Some even invite theatrical troupes to perform entertainment. What are the manners? Ming Shou? Unique, such as birthday gifts given by guests and friends, usually have gold ingots wrapped in paper and written? Wonderland is not old, but Buddha country is evergreen? First link, etc.
With the prevalence of Buddhism, some families do it for their deceased elders in temples? Ming Shou? The time for the family to do the amphibious Dojo for the deceased is 1, 3, and 7 days, with the day of perfection as the day. If the family is rich, the most grand land and water Dojo will be held, and 49 monks will worship for 7749 days. When the matter is over, put the memorial tablet of the deceased in the temple and bear the incense.
In the Qing Dynasty, people celebrated their elders' birthdays in families/clans, depending on their social status and wealth, and there were grand and simple ways. At that time, people celebrated their elders' birthdays. Besides praying for their health and longevity, many places were also due to? German crown? 、? Disaster? The popularity of ideas. In these places, people have passed down from generation to generation, and 50, 55, 66, 73 and 84 years old are the threshold of life and death in a person's life, which is the age dominated by death. There is a folk proverb:? People live 55 years, does the ghost king count? 、? Sixty-six, disorderly knife chop? 、? Seventy-three, eighty-four, Yan didn't take the initiative to ask for a vote, did he? Wait a minute. Therefore, when the above-mentioned age comes, people hope to hold a grand birthday celebration to get rid of the threat of death and successfully survive the danger. The prevalence of mourning customs in Qing Dynasty is a true reflection of ancient ancestor worship consciousness, traditional filial piety and religious belief of immortality of soul.