Preface
Before the Song Dynasty, there was no warm quilt that we are familiar with in modern times, how did the ancients stubbornly survive the cold nights in the harsh winter? When the severe cold of minus dozens of degrees hit the earth, the ancients did not have the warm tools of modern technology like us. This makes one wonder how ancient people resisted the cold and kept warm through the cold nights.
This article will take readers through the fog of time, and delve into the clever survival methods of people in the face of ice and snow before the Song Dynasty, and how they kept warm in the cold during the years when there was no warm quilt. Let's uncover the layers of fog of the wisdom of the ancients and explore the warm secrets of ancient winter.
First, when they first saw cotton, the ancients did not understand its usefulness
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, cotton was introduced to the Central Plains from the Western Regions with its trading partners. It's just that the ancients at that time didn't understand the purpose of this plant and cultivated it as an ornamental flower. It was not until the Western Han Dynasty a few hundred years later that the technology of cotton weaving was introduced. But even with the production method, the early cotton cloth was very precious, and it was only at the emperor's enthronement ceremony that the material of the court dress could be seen as cotton.
Why was the spread of cotton so slow? Perhaps rice, hemp, millet, and wheat were the protagonists in the lives of the ancients, and the ancients did not have much interest in studying this foreign visitor of unknown origin. In fact, the main obstacle is traffic and concept. The Gaochang area is a rare cotton producing area, which is thousands of miles away from the Central Plains.
Transportation costs are high, and merchants don't want to go through a lot of money. What's more, hemp, millet, wheat and other crops have been deeply integrated into the clothing, food, housing and transportation of the ancients, from dumplings to steamed buns on the table, linen cloth is enough to make clothes. The ancients didn't realize that there were better alternatives.
It was not until hundreds of years later, with the opening of the Silk Road and the further exchange and integration of Chinese and Western cultures, that cotton, a new species, attracted the attention of the ancients. Some dignitaries began to try to transport cotton from the Western Regions, trying to apply it to the production of clothing and daily necessities.
At first, many craftsmen were puzzled by this unknown raw material and did not know how to process it. With the continuous improvement of processing technology, the ancients gradually realized that the new thing of cotton may bring more possibilities to their lives.
Second, the royal inner hall is as warm as spring, and the thatched huts of the subjects are near the abyssal ice
On a cold winter night, the scene in the palace contrasts sharply with the grass village. In the splendid palace, surrounded by warm fire walls, the kang bed is constantly flowing with heat, and the emperor and the concubines of the harem sleep peacefully. In the village hut outside the city, Lin'er, a little girl whose parents have died, is tossing and turning on a tatami mat in the east and a tatami mat in the west. "Mom, it's really cold here......" Xiao Lin'er leaned on the tattered straw mat, tossing and turning and couldn't find a comfortable sleeping position.
It was a cold midwinter night, the imperial city resounded with the singing and dancing of the celebration banquet, the palace ladies sang softly, danced gracefully, and the guards held steaming mutton hot pot and fruit wine, for the emperor and the palace maids to consider. After the dance, the emperor laughed and praised the palace maids for their outstanding dancing skills. Colorful felt blankets hang on both sides of the main hall to completely block out the cold.
In stark contrast to the warmth of the court, there is a thatched hut in the corner of the capital. This once warm little home has become dilapidated and declining due to the death of both parents. Xiao Lin'er lived alone in a simple grass house, curled up and shivering. Beneath him was a straw mat covered with scraps of grass, covered with a few tattered old clothes.
The wind kept pouring in through the cracks in the walls and doors, and she rubbed her hands on her body to keep herself warm. "It's so cold...... I really miss my mom's arms. Xiao Lin'er clasped her hands on her knees, tears rolling in her eyes. She knew that this winter was destined to be another difficult cold night.
Third, it is easy for the rich to keep warm, but it is not easy for the poor to keep warm
In the society of that time, the disparity between the rich and the poor was very obvious. Those dignitaries lived in well-built mansions, and it was not difficult to keep warm. A small hand stove can warm up the body; Light a few incense sticks, and the room is filled with a warm and pleasant fragrance. Not to mention those mink fur fox furs, which are worth no less than a manor. For most ordinary people, they are satisfied with clothes and food. Not to mention any measures to protect against the cold.
In a wealthy local merchant, the owner is appraising a few newly made mink furs. These mink pelts come from the far northlands and are carefully processed by artisans to make beautiful fur garments. The owner happily counted his new wealth, thinking that wearing it during this year's Spring Festival would surely impress everyone.
Outside the city, a poor mother was rubbing sackcloth with her child. Mother and daughter were busy every day, weaving sacks, spinning threads, weaving cloth, and making them into rudimentary clothes and bedding. The old father in the house hobbled and picked up the little firewood and weeds that were left, so that the house could have a little warm fire. Everyone's energy is focused on "saving their lives," so how can they have the leisure to think about keeping out the cold? Therefore, when the harsh winter comes, the rich people buy down and clothes, but the poor people have to save money and tighten their belts.
Fourth, the people's cold magic method: cloth clothes, paper clothes and straw
Over the years, ordinary people have also accumulated all kinds of amazing wisdom and invented wonderful methods for heating.
For example, when clothing is scarce, they will collect various plant fibers and weave them into garments. This kind of cloth clothes made of linen, cotton, ramie, etc., is called "cloth clothing". In order to increase the warmth performance, people will also fill the inner layer of cloth with down such as duck down and velvet. This results in a downer-like structure that is both light and warm.
In the ancient village, villagers often see an old uncle walking down the street carrying a bag of hemp. It was all kinds of down and fluff that he had carefully collected. Chicken feathers, duck down, rabbit hair, and a little silkworm cocoon, after repeated sorting and cleaning, the old man filled them into the clothes made by himself and the villagers. A simple cloth garment, after injecting these fluffs, immediately adds a bit of fluffiness and warmth. The villagers often joke that the old uncle is like their down jacket factory.
In addition, the bark of the tree is collected near the village and made of the bark paper, which is also a good choice of clothing. It's hard, breathable, and inexpensive to make. The poor people made this durable and cold-proof "paper clothes" to survive the winter. In order to further enhance the warmth effect, a thick "paper fur" is also derived.
After some hard work, villager Xiaofu finally gathered enough materials to make a paper garment. He carefully cleaned the bark of the camphor and the bark of the camphor tree, and pounded it repeatedly on a stone mill until all the fibers were fully dissociated. He then mixes these crumbs with water and copies them into a slurry. Next, simply pour the slurry on the dustpan and drain it to form thin pieces of paper, which Xiaofu can use to cut clothes. Although the production process is very tedious, this paper garment can get him through a long and harsh winter.
Fifth, Xiao Lin'er finally waited for a warm futon
Lin'er tossed and turned all night, and the sky finally brightened. At this time, a big sister in the village came over with a bulging cloth bag. "Xiao Lin'er, I'll give you this quilt, it's filled with soft and warm cotton, I hope you can sleep well in the future." It turned out that Lin'er had been invited to work as a maid at the local official's home for a few days. When the officials learned of her plight, they specially asked someone to bring a bag of cotton from the far Western Regions, and asked someone to help her make this quilt and send it.
Xiao Lin'er trembled her hands excitedly, opened the corner of the cloth bag and looked inside. A large cloud of fluffy white cotton appeared in front of her, exuding the smell of sunshine. She dug a handful of soft cotton wool into the palm of her hand and rubbed it vigorously, feeling the unprecedented texture. It was the softest and warmest thing she'd ever touched in years.
Xiao Lin'er happily hugged the warm and fluffy new quilt, with a long-lost smile on her face. She couldn't wait to climb onto the straw mat and wrap herself tightly inside. Warmth and comfort instantly enveloped her whole body, and she felt like her whole body was floating above the white clouds. At this moment, she seemed to be back in her mother's warm embrace.
epilogue
With the passage of history, cotton was gradually introduced to the Central Plains from the Western Regions, and large-scale planting and promotion began in the early Ming Dynasty. With the development of technology and industry, people today are no longer worried about the cold winter. Air conditioning, heating, down jackets allow us to spend each winter comfortably.
When we lie down in the soft quilt and fall asleep, we may occasionally be reminded of the difficult times of the older generation. It was their creativity and perseverance that opened a new chapter in the development of civilization.
On this day, Xiaofu went out with a sack on his back as usual to collect various supplementary materials. Passing by a quilt shop, he stumbled upon a mountain of fluffy quilts piled up in the window. Round cashmere cushions, colorful thin blankets, and children's quilts with various cartoon patterns...... These items that looked extremely warm and soft made Xiaofu stunned. He remembered the old straw linen clothes he was still using, and he felt a little ashamed.
Maybe times will eventually change, and civilization will eventually progress. Xiaofu touched his rough palm and thought silently. Maybe one day, he and other ordinary people will be able to sleep in such a warm and fluffy new quilt; Perhaps the wheel of history will continue to move forward, so that children and grandchildren will no longer have to endure the hardships they once had.