Why do people cover their faces with cloth when they die? This is not superstition, but there is a scientific basis!
Since ancient times, the sons and daughters of China have had a deep understanding and respect for the loss of life. As early as ancient times, people consciously covered the face of the deceased with a thin layer of gauze.
This design not only expresses the mourning of the deceased, but also allows the living to vaguely observe the face through gauze to confirm the exact disappearance of signs of life.
Over time, during the Qin and Han dynasties, people began to use a more water-resistant and soft muslin cloth to cover their faces, reflecting the gradual enrichment of medical knowledge and the improvement of the treatment of corpses.
During the Tang and Song dynasties, the material of the mask cloth was a qualitative leap, and the nobles and doctors did not hesitate to choose expensive fine wool cashmere or silk as the mask material, so as to show the dignity of the family and the sincerity of mourning.
Some wealthy families even customized masks printed with family totems to show their prominent status and make it a fashion icon in the society at that time.
However, for ordinary people with limited financial resources, they often have to choose coarse cloth or straw mats as an alternative, and economic constraints have become a major obstacle to their participation in this fashion.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, with the prosperity and development of the silk industry, silk mask cloth was widely popularized and became a funeral article accepted and used by the public.
This not only highlights the important position of the silk industry in the society at that time, but also reflects the close connection between this Xi and the development of medicine and textile industry in ancient China.
On a deeper level, the existence of this Xi also reflects a thoughtful approach to the philosophy of life and death and the practice of medicine. In ancient times, medical care was relatively backward, and determining a person's state of death was often a technical challenge, and it was not uncommon to hear of wrongful burials of the living.
To avoid such unfortunate events, the deceased's face is covered with a white cloth or yellow paper to monitor for subtle changes in vital signs, such as subtle fluctuations in breathing or changes in facial humidity.
The experience of Sun Simiao, a famous Tang Dynasty physician, is the best proof of the importance of this practice. He has seen a patient whose heart has almost stopped beating in this way and is treated in a timely manner.
This measure not only reflects the ancient people's cherishing of life, but also effectively reduces the occurrence of misburial under the rudimentary medical conditions of the time.
For the living, the effects of death are equally profound and complex. The desire for immortality was prevalent in ancient Chinese society, and Qin Shi Huang was a typical example of this pursuit.
He sent countless emissaries in search of the legendary elixir of immortality, hoping to transcend the laws of nature. However, no matter how hard you try, it is difficult to change the ruthlessness of fate.
Qin Shi Huang did not escape death after all, and his death triggered a series of political crises. In order to stabilize the situation, his henchman Li Si and others chose a strategy of secrecy and covered the corpse with fresh fish to prevent corruption, an act that was different from later Xi customs, but also showed the importance of the dignity of the deceased, revealing the early form of the concept of facial cover cloth Xi custom.
After reading this article, please like and comment + follow, so that you can watch the latest content in time, your support is the biggest motivation for my update, thank you very much!
