Walking away from all kinds of diseases, commonly known as "walking away from all kinds of diseases" and "swimming around all kinds of diseases", is a traditional folk activity to relieve pain and pray for health. Some are on the fifteenth day of the first month, but most are on the sixteenth. In the Ming Dynasty, it was very popular among people in northern China. On this day, women dressed in festive costumes walked out of their homes in droves and crossed the bridge to tide over the difficulties, thinking that this would cure diseases and prolong life.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, on the fifteenth day of the first month in Beijing and other places, women went out for a walk at night, holding incense alone and getting on the bridge, which was called "walking all diseases", also called "walking all diseases" and "dispersing all diseases". It was an activity to eliminate disasters and pray for blessings.
The origin of 160 diseases in the first month.
Legend has it that a long time ago, Chengdu was surrounded by enemy troops, and all the officials in the city were scared out of their wits. The common people took up swords, spears and sticks and rushed to the wall to defend the city. The dilapidated city walls, towers and battlements have long been in tatters. How do they resist the enemy's attack? I don't know who shouted "dig the wall to strengthen the city wall!" " "Everyone responded immediately, digging holes, earthmoving and earthmoving quickly renovated and heightened the city wall. Tired day and night, many people are bedridden with spring fever.
In the early morning of the 16th day of the first month, the enemy attacked the city again, and the soldiers and civilians guarding the city wall bravely resisted and prevented the enemy from attacking the city. However, the residual soil just piled on the wall is soft and unstable. Someone shouted, "Tamp the soil on the wall!" The news spread like wildfire, and soon the whole city, men, women and children, and even patients with the spring epidemic ran to the wall, and Qi Xin bumped them together. The soldiers and civilians guarding the city suddenly became more courageous, bravely killed the enemy and rushed to the city wall. Seeing this, the enemy leader quickly retreated and fled, and the whole city's soldiers and civilians celebrated the victory of guarding the city.
Those who suffered from spring fever rammed the earth and roared, jumping up and down the wall with everyone, all sweating and recovering their health. Since then, Chengdu people think that the 16th day of the first month is an auspicious day. Walking on the city wall can not only appreciate the scenery in the suburbs, but also eliminate disasters and diseases, and gradually form the custom of "swimming away from all diseases".
According to experts in folklore, "wandering diseases" were originally limited to women. On the night of the 16th day of the first month of every year, they will go out and wander around, praying for good health in the coming year. At the same time, it also marks the end of the Spring Festival, and men have gone out to work to earn money, which has special significance and local characteristics.
Today's "crossing various diseases" has a new connotation. During the Spring Festival, under the service of delicious food, the whole family went out to climb the mountains and look far, breathe fresh air, feel the beautiful scenery of spring, and exercise while following traditional cultural activities, which is worth popularizing.
"Going through all kinds of diseases" is very particular among the people.
Usually at a certain time, women will get together, or walk against the wall, or cross the bridge, or walk in the suburbs, in order to drive away diseases and disasters. This is an activity to eliminate disasters and pray for blessings. It is generally believed among the people that when we are "away from all diseases", we should "hit a nail" in order to get good luck and eliminate diseases. "Touching nails" means burning incense in the temple and touching the doornails at the temple gate with your hands to pray for family prosperity.
Beijing
On the 16th night of the first month of the Lantern Festival, women put on white silk shirts and went out side by side in groups, arm in arm, the first one holding incense to clear the way, and the other women crossed the bridge at the same speed. It is said that the life of this bridge is not long. Those who cross the bridge can avoid back and leg pain for one year. And "hitting a nail" means that a woman goes to the gate hole and touches a copper nail on the gate, which means that this move is "suitable for men", that is, "giving birth to a boy". In the old society, women tended to do housework and raise children, so they were tired and weak, and were prone to illness. On the evening of the 16th day of the first month of every year, the main purpose is to go out for a stroll, which means to dispel the diseases at home. Up to now, this custom still remains in villages in the suburbs of Beijing.
Cangzhou
On the 16th day of the first month in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, there is a custom of walking away from all diseases. Originally confined to women, this activity has become one of the important customs in traditional culture through the enrichment and development of past dynasties.
Nowadays, in the ancient city of Cangzhou, not only in suburban counties, but also in urban areas, after dinner, citizens are in groups of three or five, or in pairs, some are carrying lanterns (traditionally, uncles buy lanterns for nephews, but they are still uncles), and some are wearing shiny headdresses. Young people will light lanterns in Nanhu Lake, and everyone will throw some coins at every intersection, which means abandoning illness and pain. When coins jingle to the ground, children will pick them up, because everyone thinks that after the unfortunate fall, they will leave a blessing.
Nanjing
"On the sixteenth day of the first month, climb to the top of the city, get rid of all diseases and step on peace." In Yuanxi, Nanjing, walking sickness went from bridgehead to Chengtou. According to the explanation, after Zhu Yuanzhang built the Nanjing city in the early days, the city wall became a military stronghold. How can ordinary people climb the city wall, let alone play with the city head! Later, when the world was peaceful, Zhu Yuanzhang specially asked the people to visit the city wall on the 16th day of the first month. Jubao, Tongji and Sanshanmen have all set up urns, but it is better than taking the third bridge. To show that the people have fun with the people. Finally, it became a "hundred diseases."
Weixian county
The walking disease in wei county (now Weicheng District) has its own characteristics. On the 16th, women went to the Zhenwu Temple in the northeast city to make pilgrimages. First, they secretly touched the wooden tiger crossed by Emperor Zhenwu and Zhao Xuantan, commonly known as the "old cat". It is said that touching an old cat won't get sick for a year. There are two stone men in front of the shrine, one is an old stone man and the other is an old woman. It is said that they have been moxibustion for a year and are collectively called "running old cats". There is a poem "Ci of Zhi Zhu, wei county" in the Manuscript of wei county compiled in the Republic of China, which reads: "Xinzheng Jiejie Festival began at the Lantern Festival, and the old cats ran in Chengtou. In order to seek a disease-free year, Ai Xiang competed to burn stone men.