Text | Xiaofeng talks about history
Edit | Xiaofeng talks about history
In ancient times when there was no high technology, people could barely survive by wearing a few more clothes in the face of severe cold. But in the face of the scorching heat, it is indeed difficult for them to survive without air conditioning.
But the "poverty" of science and technology did not stop the wisdom of the ancients, with the in-depth understanding of the ancients. You will find that "a thousand years of wisdom is enough for them to successfully resist the scorching summer heat".
1. Cool clothing
In ancient times, ordinary people also used their wisdom to find a way to escape the heat when faced with the scorching summer. In addition to charred cloth and yarn, kudzu cloth and linen cloth are also one of the materials often used to escape the heat.
The so-called kudzu cloth refers to a cloth made from kudzu, which has good breathability and softness. It also helps dissipate heat and wicks sweat and dries quickly, keeping you dry.
On this basis, people usually make kudzu cloth into loose clothing to increase air circulation and provide better ventilation for their bodies.
Linen is another common material for clothing, which is made of hemp fibers, which are coarser and tougher. Due to the special textile process of linen, it has excellent breathability and moisture absorption.
At the same time, the linen cloth can also effectively prevent static electricity and prevent physical discomfort. For this reason, ancient people often used linen cloth to make summer clothes, so that the body can be cooled and comfortable.
When choosing clothing materials, the ancients also noticed the influence of color. Light-coloured clothing is believed to help reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption.
The colors that the ancients preferred in summer were white and light colors because they gave people a cool feeling visually.
In addition to the colours, the styles and cuts of the garments are also widely varied, with a loose, airy and comfortable design for added breathability. In addition, in order to increase the coolness of wearing, ancient people also explored some simple ways to dispose of clothes.
They boil, sterilize and rinse the garment, using the interaction of plants to create the material they want.
In addition to choosing the right clothing material, ordinary people in ancient times also studied some unique ways to escape the heat. They lower the indoor temperature in their homes by providing shade to block the sun, or choose relatively cool times of the morning or evening for outdoor activities.
For some families with better family backgrounds, there is also Cuicuixuan in the courtyard, which can be used to escape the heat. In addition to wearing cool clothes, the ancients also put a lot of effort into "summer food".
Second, the artifact of summer relief
In ancient times, in order to cope with the scorching heat, people invented many artifacts to cool off, among which food played a vital role.
Not only did they discover the effects of fruits and vegetables to cool off the heat, but they also created a variety of cold drinks and ice products, which were regarded as good helpers in ancient times.
In addition to the new lychee, bayberry and other fruits mentioned in the meticulous "Wulin Old Things", there is also a fruit called persimmon, which is also a good hand for clearing heat and relieving heat.
The appearance of the persimmon is similar to that of ordinary persimmons, but the taste is special, it is very cool and sweet to eat, and the effect of cooling off the heat is very obvious.
The ancients created many cold drinks to bring people a refreshing taste experience to beat the heat.
One of the most popular is the cold soup, which was made by ancient people with golden peaches, hawthorn pits, cold milk and vegetable juices, to relieve the heat and pain of the hot summer.
These cold soups have a sweet and sour taste, and can also help people relieve heat and fever.
At the same time, the ancients were also very particular about the use of ice, and every year when it was cold, they would send people to a place with good water quality to collect ice cubes and store them in well-designed ice cellars.
When summer comes, simply remove the ice cubes and place them indoors to cool down.
In addition to natural ice, there are also artificially made ice. Ancient ice-making methods can be divided into two types, one is to use saltpeter to make ice, and the other is to use the refrigeration effect of deep wells.
Boiling water is poured into pottery, sealed and placed in a deep well, where ice is formed over a period of three days. This method of making deep well ice is simple and easy, and it is very popular with ordinary people.
Under this, the ancients also invented a refrigerator-like ice book to store and chill food. Bingjian is usually a bronze container that can hold ice cubes, and the cold air emitted by the ice cubes can cool down food or drinks, which brings great convenience to people's lives.
What's more, in addition to making ice, the ancients also invented popsicles to cool off the heat.
In fact, there was already a method of making popsicles in the Southern Song Dynasty, and people would make frozen popsicles with sugar water and spices, and sell them on the street after they were frozen.
This popsicle is especially popular in the summer, and the refreshing taste brings unlimited enjoyment.
Nowadays, with the advancement of modern technology, we can enjoy cold drinks and ice products at any time. However, in ancient times, without advanced technology, people were able to create many artifacts to cool off.
I have to say that the wisdom of the ancestors is not outdated at all even after a thousand years.
And since we have said that we have food and clothing, we have to talk about the "whimsy" of the ancients in living.
3. Cool off
Ancient people created a variety of summer artifacts, ranging from luxurious facilities for royal palaces to simple utensils and tools for private use.
These artifacts brought coolness and comfort to people in the era when there was no air conditioning and electric fans.
Let's start with the palace, each dynasty has its own unique summer resort.
The Ziyu Pavilion in the Tang Dynasty used the power of the waterwheel to introduce water into the groove, and eventually formed a water curtain with a steady stream of coolness.
As for the cool hall and the cool hall, the mechanical principle is used to generate cold air to achieve the effect of cooling and purifying the air.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, movable ice buckets appeared, similar to modern split air conditioners, which greatly improved the cooling effect. In addition to the royal family has various "summer artifacts", folk summer tricks are also endless.
Among the people, bamboo beds, bamboo mats, reed mats, and other utensils made of bamboo and reeds have become the most popular summer artifacts.
They are airy, airy, and cool and comfortable, making them a great choice for people in the summer.
In addition to these, there is also a cylindrical bamboo product called Bamboo Lady, which can also be hugged or put on your feet to enjoy the coolness.
At the same time, they will dig a deep well in the floor of the room and use the underground air conditioning to cool down. The cellar of the "earthen chamber" collects the constant temperature of the ground and helps people survive the summer heat.
In fact, in addition to the above facilities and utensils, many other summer artifacts were invented in ancient times. For example, fan trucks, although they do not have the power of modern electric fans, can be driven by manpower or water wheels, which can bring cool breezes to people.
In addition, there is a wooden appliance that uses water power, which can also reduce the indoor temperature after passing through the water house or spraying the house.
The author thinks
Although the ancients did not have such powerful technology as modern times, with their own wisdom, the ancients still created many excellent summer artifacts.
These artifacts not only played an important role in ancient times, but also provided valuable experience and inspiration for the development of science and technology in later generations.
However, I have to say that compared with the summer methods of the ancients, we are so happy to have an air-conditioned room now.