History is nothing but the activity of those who pursue their own ends. Marx and Engels
Now when we go to the Forbidden City, we will see a stone pier with a hole in the middle on the east side in front of the three major halls. Most people will feel very strange why such a stone pier appeared in the huge imperial palace, and it was still in such an important and sensitive place as the three major halls. In fact, behind this, there is a history that now seems to be bizarre.
In fact, this stone pier is not just a stone, there will be a wooden pole inserted in the middle of the stone pier all year round, and there will be an open box on it. In Manchu, this wooden pole is commonly known as the wax pole, which means "the pole of the ancestors" in Chinese. Don't say that stone piers and poles can't be touched casually, even the shadows cast by the sun on the poles can't be touched, you have to walk around.
Why is that? Puyi's seventh uncle Zaitao told the truth in a posthumous manuscript written in his later years. In his posthumous manuscript, he recorded: "The ancestral pole is about two inches high, and on the top of the pole is a square tin bucket. According to the rules of the palace, every day it is necessary to put meat and feed the crows. ”
In addition to putting fresh meat on the top of the pole every day to feed the crows, this wooden pole also has a very important role, that is, to accept the kneeling of the Qing Emperor. It is said that when the new emperor of the Qing Dynasty ascended the throne, he had to sacrifice in front of the "ancestral pole". And not only to make a sacrifice but also to make a very solemn, when the sacrifice, the table should be placed on a dozen dishes as a tribute, and the ceremony is also very cumbersome and solemn.
So why is this magical and honorable wooden pole used to feed crows? In fact, an explanation can also be found in Zaitao's posthumous manuscript. It is said that nurhaci, the ancestor of the Qing Dynasty, was wounded in battle, was chased by the enemy, and hid in a grass stack. When the enemy chased here, he found two crows on the haystack, and he thought that there was no one here, so he went to track it down elsewhere.
Nurhaci was also saved, so from this time on the crow became the sacred bird of the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand that feeding crows is a very important ritual when worshipping ancestors. This is the source of this pole in the Forbidden City, is it still strange to see?