☀ Without air conditioning fans, how did the ancients withstand the high temperatures? What are some wise ways to escape the heat?
Modern people have air conditioning and ice cream to rely on, but where should the ancients go?
In ancient times, the summer heat was undoubtedly a challenge, especially in the absence of modern cooling equipment, however, the wisdom and creativity of the ancients allowed them to cope with the scorching heat in a unique way.
From refreshing drinks to light clothing to clever architectural design and household items, the ancients used a variety of strategies to escape the heat, reflecting their value for quality of life and a deep understanding of environmental adaptability.
The ancients also had a unique way of coping with the scorching heat, not only wearing light clothes and looking for shade from trees, but also enjoying their own "ice cream", Sushan.
In ancient China, there was a dessert known as "Sushan", which can be seen as ancient ice cream, which was made from milk, added with a little spice such as honey, heated and melted, and then poured into a plate with crushed ice to cool and solidify into a small mountain.
This dessert not only has a delicate taste, but also has a certain effect of cooling off, the ancients would put it in the ice cellar to preserve, until it is completely chilled and can be eaten, this can be described as the ancient version of ice cream, although not as colorful and varied as today, but also refreshing and delicious, relieving the heat.
In ancient times, the enjoyment of Sushan was limited to the upper nobles such as emperors and generals, and it was not until the Song Dynasty that this luxury food gradually spread to the people. At that time, the common people were very satisfied and luxurious to be able to eat a bite of the crispy mountain.
In addition to Sushan, the ancients also consumed various kinds of refreshing drinks. For example, the pre-Qin period has appeared in the fruit juice ice drink, to the Song Dynasty, the common people began to contact and enjoy another popular summer drink, mung bean water, this drink is loved by people for its effect of clearing heat and relieving heat, until today, mung bean water is still widely popular, and then to the Qing Dynasty a wide variety of "cold drinks".
Although there was no modern refrigerator, the ancients also had the means to invent containers such as ice cubes to preserve ice. As long as there is an indispensable "refrigeration equipment" in summer, all kinds of summer delicacies will come naturally.
Originally introduced in the Warring States period and made mainly of bronze, this type of container can store ice collected in the winter and be used to refrigerate food and drinks in the summer.
The design of the ice was designed to isolate the interior space from the outside world, keep the temperature low, and prolong the preservation time of the ice cubes, and this ingenious design not only provided convenience for the aristocracy, but also gradually spread to the common people over time.
When it comes to costumes, the ancients also showed their wisdom, and while the characters in costume dramas seem to wear long-sleeved caftan throughout the year, in reality, ancient costumes were very airy and lightweight in their materials and design.
They will choose to make summer clothes with light and breathable fabrics such as linen, cotton, silk, etc., such as burnt cloth, gauze clothes, etc., these fabrics are comfortable and cool to wear, and in costume dramas, aristocrats often wear light gauze long shirts, although they still have long sleeves and long pants, they do not feel stuffy, thanks to the careful selection of clothing.
There are also different summer attire in different periods, women in the Tang Dynasty when the clothes are looser, to the Song Dynasty sleeveless vests, and even made of bamboo "sweat clothes", better breathability, this kind of bamboo clothes are complex workmanship, the technical requirements are extremely high, and only high-ranking officials and nobles have the honor to enjoy.
In addition to food and clothing, ancient people also created a variety of ways to live in the heat, and the aristocracy built summer resorts were often located in beautiful scenery, cooler areas, such as mountains or waterfronts, to create a pleasant living environment.
For ordinary people, they dig wells in their homes to bring a touch of coolness to their homes by using the low temperature properties of groundwater, and at the same time, they also use household items such as mattresses and porcelain pillows made of bamboo to provide a cool sleeping environment at night.
In daily life, the ancients were also quite clever, they would constantly fan the fan to get fresh air during the day, and use porcelain pillows, mats and other objects to cool off when sleeping, these simple tools are not only affordable, but also easy to carry and use. They brought a fresh breeze to people on hot summer days and became one of the common ways to escape the heat at that time from all walks of life.
Some people even simply sleep by the open underground water well, which is simply a natural air conditioner!
It can be seen that the ancients were not completely helpless in the face of the scorching heat, they exerted their ingenuity, starting from all aspects of clothing, food, housing and transportation, which was also quite effective, modern people have air conditioning to rely on, and the ancients also had their own summer tricks, the difference is only in the means, the purpose and effect are the same.
