In ancient China, condemned prisoners would face a mysterious and ancient ritual in the last moments of their lives – eating a severed head.
The most curious thing about this meal is a piece of fishy raw meat placed next to the meal.
Why is there such an obnoxious piece of raw meat in the midst of this sumptuous last meal?
This is not simply a food Xi, but contains deep cultural and religious significance. In the ancient people's conception, this piece of raw flesh was not just a physical existence, it was given a special purpose—a mystical mission involving life and death, faith, and redemption.
What secrets does this piece of raw meat hide, and how does it become a bridge between life and death, between this world and the afterlife?
The last meal before death
At dawn in ancient China, heavy footsteps echoed in the corridors of the prison. The jailer carried a plate of food in his hand and slowly walked to the death row cell. This meal, known as the "severed head meal", was the last meal of the condemned prisoner in the world.
"This is your guillotine meal, eat it. The jailer put down the plate, and his tone was imperceptible with sadness.
The death row inmate stared at the food in front of him, a complicated glint flashing in his eyes. Among the hearty food, a fishy piece of raw meat stands out. The meat smelled unpleasant, but it stood out.
"This piece of meat...... What is it for?" asked the death row inmate, confused, with curiosity in his eyes.
The jailer replied softly, "This is a special gift for you, and legend has it that it will help you find a better home in the afterlife." ”
This piece of raw meat is said to be related to the beliefs and superstitions of ancient people.
Legend has it that after death, the soul needs to cross the bridge, and there are fierce dogs on the bridge. This piece of raw meat is used to divert the attention of the vicious dog, so that the soul of the deceased can smoothly cross the bridge and be reincarnated.
The death row inmate clutched the piece of raw meat tightly, and a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes: "Really? This will help me cross the bridge?"
The jailer nodded, his tone filled with some mysterious conviction: "Yes, this is an old legend. Although it cannot be confirmed, it is always good to have such a hope in the last moments of your life. ”
The atmosphere in the prison was heavy and sad, and the death row inmates in the cells silently tasted his severed head meal. His mood is complicated, with both the sadness of his imminent death and the expectation of an unknown fate in the afterlife.
That piece of raw meat, in his opinion, is no longer a simple food, but a hope to another world.
As the sky grew brighter, the mood of the death row inmates became heavier. He knew that when the sun rose, his life would come to an end. This severed meal became the last memory of his life.
In the torrent of history, such scenes have been played out in ancient times. Every soul facing death is looking for a glimmer of hope for the afterlife through this fishy piece of raw flesh at the last moment of life.
This Xi not only reflects the ancient society's view of death, but also shows people's endless thoughts and hopes for the afterlife.
The symbol of death and the hope of life
In ancient China, death was not only the end of the individual, but also the embodiment of culture and faith. It is believed that the world after death is equally important, so there is a lot of reverence and hope for death and the afterlife.
This piece of raw meat, although it seems useless in reality, carries a deep cultural significance and people's hope for the afterlife.
In the eyes of the prisoners who are waiting to be beheaded day and night, this piece of raw meat represents the expectation of the future and the farewell to reality. At the last moment of their lives, they pinned hope for the afterlife and repentance for the past through this piece of raw meat.
"Maybe in the next life, I can have a fresh beginning. The prisoner muttered to himself, a subtle glint flashing in his eyes.
This tradition has continued for hundreds of years in ancient societies and has become a unique cultural phenomenon. It is not only a psychological comfort for the condemned prisoners, but also a manifestation of cultural understanding and humanistic care for death.
Behind this piece of raw meat, there is a deep reflection on life, death and the afterlife of ancient Chinese society.
In ancient societies, the understanding of death was full of mystery and superstition. It is believed that the world after death is equally important, so there is a lot of reverence and hope for death and the afterlife. This piece of raw meat is not only the last psychological solace for death row inmates, but also a kind of atonement for their crimes.
When the death row inmates walked to the execution ground with the piece of raw meat, they had both the fear of imminent death and the anticipation of the new life that the afterlife might bring. In this dying moment, raw meat becomes their last connection to the world.
This tradition reflects the ancient Chinese society's respect for life and a deep understanding of the afterlife. Behind this piece of raw flesh lies the deep thoughts and endless prayers of the ancients about life, death, and the afterlife.
The Mysterious Culture of the Border between Life and Death: A Comparison of Eastern and Western Views of Death
In ancient societies, people's understanding of death was full of mystery and superstition.
In Chinese culture, death is seen not only as the end of life, but also as the beginning of a journey to another world. The ancient Chinese culture of death was full of imagination of the afterlife and reverence for the afterlife.
The legendary Nai He Bridge and Meng Po Tang, as well as the trial of King Yan, embody the specific and vivid depiction of the afterlife by the Chinese.
This culture holds that after death, the soul will go through various trials that will ultimately determine its fate in the afterlife. For example, the piece of raw meat in the severed head meal is a consolation for the souls of the condemned prisoners and a preparation for the afterlife. It symbolizes the atonement for sins and the anticipation of a new life in the afterlife.
In contrast, the culture of death in the West is more inclined to the dualistic idea of heaven and hell. Death is seen as the final judgment of the soul, determining whether the soul ascends to heaven or descends to hell.
Hell in the West, often described as full of pain and suffering, is ruled by demons or Satan.
In this culture, the world after death is the final judgment of one's life's actions, emphasizing the absoluteness of morality and the redemptive function of religion.
In both cultures, we can see different attitudes towards death and different expectations for the afterlife.
Chinese culture of death emphasizes the cycle of life and the transformation of the soul, while Western culture emphasizes ultimate judgment and eternal destiny. This difference reflects the fundamentally different understandings and interpretations of life, death, and the cosmic order in Eastern and Western cultures.
Whether in the East or in the West, the culture of death reflects the exploration and thinking of human beings on the ultimate question of life.
The symbols and rituals in these cultures, such as the raw meat in the severed head rice in ancient China, are not only psychological comfort for the deceased, but also a cultural expression of the meaning of death.
These ideas and rituals form part of a deep understanding of life and death, this life and the afterlife.
epilogue
After exploring the secrets of the fishy piece of raw meat in ancient guillotine rice, we discovered that it is not only a simple food, but also a symbol of profound cultural and religious significance.
In ancient China, people were full of awe and mysterious imagination about death.
This piece of raw flesh is entrusted with the important task of helping the souls of death row inmates cross the bridge safely, reflecting people's belief in the afterlife and their deep understanding of death. Its appearance at the last meal of death row inmates is not only the last solace for their lives, but also a symbolic atonement for their crimes.
This unique tradition shows the deep thinking of ancient societies about life, death, and the afterlife, as well as a humanistic concern for those condemned to death.
In the long course of history, this piece of raw meat has become an important link between life and death, the present and the afterlife, witnessing the unique understanding of the end of life in ancient Chinese society and the infinite exploration of the unknown world.