In 2011, a developed area near the mouth of the Yangtze River in eastern China was awarded the honorary title of "Hometown of Longevity" by the International Association of Natural Medicine. People began to look at this place with a long history, from the heart of the Yangtze River Delta. This is Rugao, located in Nantong, Jiangsu Province.
In Rugao, seventy is too common, eighty little brothers, ninety is not unusual. According to the latest statistics in 2021, there are 525 centenarians over the age of 100 in Rugao, and the proportion of long-lived elderly people is more than twice as high as the United Nations standard for longevity. As early as 1991, the International Society of Natural Medicine selected five longevity towns. In addition to China's Bama and southern Xinjiang, there are also the Caucasus region of the former Soviet Union, Hunza in Pakistan, and Bilcabamba in Ecuador.
The five longevity towns share common environmental characteristics, all of which are located in remote mountainous areas and their economies are relatively lagging behind. However, unlike the five longevity towns, Rugao, the world's sixth largest longevity town, is located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and is the only longevity township in the world located in economically developed areas and plains, and has become a major destination city for the world to enjoy longevity and health.
Compared with other elderly people in other longevity towns, the long-lived elderly in Rugao have a happier life, a healthier body, a more pleasant spirit, and more enjoyment of happiness in their old age. Among the centenarians over Rugao, there are few disabilities and psychological disorders. Some old people still insist on reading books and newspapers, some old people can still climb trees and walls, some old people can still do needlework, and some people still win good results in the Asian elderly athletics field.
The two centenarians I know, one is my mother-in-law who works in the Provincial People's Congress, 101 years old this year, deaf and blind, last year's National Day back to Rugao, she sat in the car for two or three hours, at night to eat together, she did not feel tired at all, after eating and watching us play cards to more than eleven hours, still energetic. The next day in Nantong, the old man also ate and played with him all the way, without half tiredness. There is also an old man in the village, known as "Chen Er Carpenter", 104 years old this year, his wife has been gone for a few years, his son and daughter-in-law are working in the city, and he usually lives alone in the old house. The carpenter did not do his job long ago, but the two acres of land in his family were still not lost, picking up manure, watering, and harvesting, and he was not idle at all. When Chen Er Carpenter was 96 years old, he got along with a widow in her 60s in a neighboring village, and he had to ride a bicycle to visit his friend at both ends of the three days, and also helped the woman to do farm work and help the housework. When I returned to my hometown during the Qingming Festival this year, I saw this old man climbing on a tree and using a saw to strip (sort out branches). The villagers' neighbors told me not to look at Chen Er carpenter so old, but I didn't see him sick and hospitalized all year round.
Friends are asking, what has created the unique longevity phenomenon of Rugao? What kind of longevity mystery does Rugao have? Throughout the ages, people explore the way of longevity, seek the way of health has never stopped, especially in the country to remove poverty today, to meet the needs of healthy life, the pursuit of life and health and longevity, more urgent than ever, people's attention to health and longevity is higher than ever, for this reason, how many scientific research teams, how many experts and scholars came to Rugao land, want to find the key to longevity, want to dig the treasure of health, and finally everyone got the consensus: Rugao formed today's longevity phenomenon, is more than one cause and one effect, both humanistic, There are also geographical and natural factors, and in the final analysis, the unique geography and way of life of the Rugao people have created a longevity phenomenon.
There are three core elements integrated into the life of Rugao people.
The first core element is "water and soil". It is said that ten thousand water and soil nourish one person, God created man, and God also gave the Rugao people eternal water and soil. Rugao, the old language means to go to the highlands by the water. As early as 5,000 years ago, at the confluence of the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the Yangtze River, a small sandbar island with an area of about 800 square kilometers was born, forming the fertile soil of Rugao today. Later, with the continuous diversion of the Ancient Huai River, such a strange scene was never seen in the eastern land. Rugao is the only fertile soil formed by the confluence of four waters in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Rugao was born of water and thrived on water, and is the earliest ancient yi in the Yangtze River Delta that has appeared in the annals of history. The benefits of fishing salt in the Western Han Dynasty, the reclamation of land in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the weaving silkworms in the Ming Dynasty, the gathering of merchants and merchants in the Qing Dynasty, and the lining of guild halls, enjoyed the reputation of "Jin Rugao" in the prosperous era of Kangqian, and was called "the largest county in China" during the Republic of China period. The Yangtze River is one of the reasons for Rugao's longevity. The Yangtze River carries many minerals from the upstream that are beneficial to human health and deposited here. According to the survey data of drinking water sources in Rugao area, the compliance rate of drinking water sources in Rugao is 98.5%. All chemical indicators have been maintained within the I.-II. standard, and the trace elements such as iron, manganese, zinc, boron, and selenium required by the human body are abundant. According to studies, manganese, boron, selenium and other elements have anti-cancer and anti-aging effects in the human body.
Let's talk about the soil of Rugao. Rugao is located in the estuary area of the Yangtze River, which is a plain formed by the impact of the Yangtze River. Therefore, the main source of Rugao soil is the Yangtze River alluvial, which enriches the mineral composition of the rugao soil matrix and lays the foundation for the diversity of soil element composition. The soil rich in various elements, the grains, vegetables and fruits produced, all contain a variety of ingredients that are beneficial to human health. In addition, Rugao is located at 32 ° 00 '-32 ° 30 'north latitude, which belongs to the northern subtropical humid climate zone, with a mild climate and abundant rainfall, which is suitable for human body function.
Water, soil and climate give birth to a promised land of life. Rugao is a blessed land created by heaven and the darling of the Yangtze River. For thousands of years, Rugao people have multiplied and lived here, and the factors of longevity have gradually formed genetic advantages in the intergenerational inheritance of Rugao people.
The second core element is "custom". The longevity of the Rugao people not only benefits from the rich natural environment of Rugao, but also benefits from the secrets of life passed down through the ages by the Rugao people, which penetrate into all aspects, so that they have become the people's daily life.
In terms of food customs, the Rugao people advocate "light, fresh, miscellaneous, and wild". The life of the Rugao people begins with a light bowl of corn grits porridge in the morning. Rugao people have a mantra: "Often drink corn porridge, can live a hundred, corn grits, rice foundation, health and longevity of more than ninety." Drinking porridge in the early morning can regulate the spleen and stomach, replenish the water lost by the human body at night, and facilitate digestion. In the recipes of the Rugao people, there are dozens of kinds of porridge. Some Rugao people have even developed a light eating habit of "two porridges and one meal". In the light diet, rugao people also advocate "fresh". The fertile land of Rugao and the geographical landform of the rivers and rivers provide rich ingredients for the Rugao people. Rugao people, who do not lack ingredients all year round, regard "fresh" as one of the basic criteria for diet. Locals also call it "fresh water". Freshly slaughtered meat, freshly caught fish and shrimp, freshly picked vegetables, all dishes are "fresh" at the best. In addition to "fresh", "miscellaneous" is also one of the eating habits of Rugao people. The so-called "miscellaneous" is to eat coarse grains and fine grains mixed, and meat dishes and vegetarian dishes are reasonably matched. Even wild vegetables grown in the field are included in the food list of the Rugao people. Rugao people believe that the more miscellaneous they eat, the more conducive it is to the balance of yin and yang and the coordination of internal organs. This also coincides with the concept of traditional Chinese medicine "five grains for nourishment, five fruits for help, five animals for benefit, and five dishes for filling".
In terms of living customs, many elderly people in Rugao have the habit of sleeping "meridian". The Rugao Longevity Research Institute once conducted a sleep survey on more than 100 local centenarians and found that more than 90% of them did not have insomnia. The sleep habits of the elderly in Rugao are very traditional, they are all going to bed early and getting up early, taking a nap at noon, and ensuring that the sleep time is not less than 8 hours a day. In addition to sleep, the elderly rugao often use meditation, closed eyes and "slow walking" to maintain health. "Diet is moderate, living sometimes" is the root of health, Rugao people in modern life, still follow nature, naturally also with "longevity" gifts Rugao people.
The Rugao people have the custom of raising flowers and planting grass and bonsai. The people of Rugao, in front of and behind the house, are planted with trees and flowers, which not only beautifies and purifies the environment, but also cultivates sentiments. Rupai bonsai is one of the seven major schools of Chinese bonsai, which is famous at home and abroad for its unique shape, and has become the most appropriate and solemn living artwork in important places such as Zhongnanhai and the Great Hall of the People. Rupai bonsai began in the Song Dynasty, flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties, with its unique artistic charm in the world bonsai circle occupies a place, becoming the country's first bonsai geographical indication, the art of panza has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, Rugao has also become the permanent location of the Bonsai Branch of the China Flower and Wood Association. Rugao's existing flower and wood bonsai area of more than 200,000 mu, flower and wood bonsai annual sales income exceeded 10 billion yuan, becoming the largest flower and wood bonsai production and export base in East China, flower and wood bonsai industry has become a golden signboard of Rugao, known as the "green bank" of Rugao people.
The third core factor is "culture". Rugao is a famous education town in the country, for thousands of years, Rugao people advocate education and pay attention to etiquette. In the past, no matter how poor they were, they had to send their children to school, and the children who had read books knew Dali and were gentle and elegant. Rugao people always adhere to the idea of "contentment and happiness" in life, and can see everything openly and think thoroughly. In the core area of Rugao, there is an ancient block of nearly 1 square kilometer, which well preserves the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and there is a Yingchun Bridge in this block, which is engraved with a couplet, "May the heavens always be good, may people always do good deeds", this couplet has a history of more than 300 years, expressing the good wishes of the people of Rugao, and it is also a testimony to the good mentality of the Rugao people. Pay attention to harmony and wealth, advocating literature and morality has become a common practice here, and social harmony has been vividly interpreted in Rugao, which has become a conscious pursuit of Rugao people. On the streets of Rugao, it is rare to see scenes like some outsiders arguing and cursing the street, which is probably related to the confucian and gentle character of Rugao people.
Since ancient times, Rugao has respected teachers and respected the Tao, respected the elderly and loved children, respected friends and friends, and advocated politeness and friendliness between people, and this open-mindedness and generosity integrated into the blood is reflected in the details of the daily behavior of Rugao people in handling interpersonal relationships. Do not lose faith in dealing with people, be kind to others without bad words, queue up in an orderly manner without scrambling, and politely let pedestrians not rush to do so... The "Convention on Civic Civilization" has become the code of conduct for every Rugao person. The obvious difference between modern society and traditional society is that people-to-people interaction breaks through the restrictions of blood and geography and builds a "stranger society". In such a society, the goodwill, mutual help and fraternity of "everyone for me, I am for everyone" have become particularly precious. The simple Rugao people, this point is vividly expressed.
The filial piety of the Rugao people is also famous. There is a folk proverb: "There is an old man in the family, if there is a treasure." In many families, the elderly live with their children, and it is very common for families with four generations and five generations in the same house. In the common life, the younger generations take good care of the elders, so that the elderly can enjoy the joy of the world. This has also become one of the reasons for the longevity of the elderly in the Rugao area.
In addition to the filial piety and care of family members for the elderly, the custom of respecting and loving the elderly in rugao area has also been passed down from generation to generation. Not only do relatives and neighbors take good care of the elderly, but even the Rugao government and society have a tradition of attaching importance to the elderly. Every New Year's Festival, leaders of governments at all levels will personally visit the centenarians. Centenarians celebrate their birthdays, and they will hold birthday banquets for the elderly. Respecting the elderly and enabling the elderly to be able to support the elderly, treat the elderly, and enjoy the old is the continuation and inheritance of Rugao's traditional excellent culture. For the elderly, living well and eating well is not the most important existence in life, what they expect is actually in the human world, still able to feel the love and attention of their loved ones, which is the greatest satisfaction of their lives, and it is also the meaning of their long life.
Longevity is the belief in life that has been continued and inherited by mankind for thousands of years, and it is a beautiful vision for Chinese to pursue the realm of life. The longevity phenomenon of Rugao is a spectacle created by the environment, lifestyle and culture. Rugao still has relics about longevity such as the Baisheng Bridge and the Baisheng Lane. They bear witness to the magic and charm of this place about longevity. Behind the longevity is the cultural spirit of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Deciphering the longevity culture of Rugao is also a rich enlightenment to provide people around the world with the goal of longevity.
Rugao is like a song, often come to live forever. Walking into the land of longevity, Rugao, you may also prolong your life.