Preface: "The sea is tolerant of all rivers, tolerance is great, the wall stands thousands, and there is no desire to be rigid." "Since ancient times, eagles have been the embodiment of kingly demeanor.
However, few people know about the "best of the eagles", that is Haidongqing, which is known as the "God of Ten Thousand Eagles", which not only symbolizes the highest culture of the Manchus, but also represents the glory of the royal family.
How did it get this title?
God of Eagles
Haidongqing is the highest eagle species considered a totem by the Manchus, symbolizing their reverence for strength, courage and spirit, and its true body is the largest surviving falcon bird of prey, the spear falcon.
Tall with a wingspan of more than two meters, the black and white color of the falcon presents a distinctive beauty, although the falcon has a limited distribution area in China, and can only be seen in a few areas such as Xinjiang, Heilongjiang and Qinghai.
Known for its lightning-fast speed and ferocious attack, the Gyrfalcon is capable of diving at speeds of up to 240 kilometers per hour to hunt prey.
Even though it often fights animals several times larger than itself, its brave and fearless personality is still highly respected by the Manchus, and it can survive for more than 20 days by preying on large prey at a time, and its endurance is very strong.
The falcon was the falcon's falcon assistant to the Manchus, playing an important role in hunting, and the Manchus breathed a sigh of relief when it flew freely and dived at high speed to catch its prey, and the use of tools increased labor productivity while also bringing them more ease.
In ancient times, the falcon had a high status and a status that symbolized power, in order to obtain the falcon, people were even willing to exchange their lives for it, due to the scarcity of Haidongqing, the ancients revered and valued it very much, and regarded it as a god-like existence.
Because it is "elusive and unsudden", it is not easy to see the real Haidongqing, which has triggered people to chase it.
In an attempt to catch this rare bird, people would burn incense and set traps in the hope of trapping it, and when it was caught, it became a precious tribute to the king.
Haidongqing is believed to possess the qualities of courage, loyalty, and tenacity, and it has become a symbol of the Manchu national spirit.
Whether in the history of the Manchus or in modern society, people need to have the spiritual realm of the "God of Ten Thousand Eagles", constantly overcome difficulties, and move forward in order to achieve success and happiness.
A deified totem
The Liao Dynasty government had a great demand and attention to Haidongqing, and it was often used in early hunting activities and royal banquets, in order to protect and cultivate this precious falcon, the Liao Dynasty government specially set up an eagle workshop to train and protect it.
By controlling Haidongqing's resources, the central government of the Liao Dynasty successfully achieved a monopoly on Haidongqing, making Haidongqing represent the supremacy of imperial power, full of mystery, and difficult for ordinary people to touch.
The central government of the Liao Dynasty took Haidongqing as a reward and congratulatory gift to show the importance attached to Haidongqing.
However, the status and scope of use of Haidongqing are not limited to political and social halls, in the cultural inheritance of the Liao Dynasty, Haidongqing still plays an important role, and at the same time has the spirit of bravery, perseverance, and perseverance, becoming a symbol of the spiritual pursuit of the Liao Dynasty.
The image of Hai Dongqing often appears in works of art and folklore, becoming part of the national culture.
In addition, Haidongqing played an important role in the military of the Liao Dynasty, which formed a unique Haidongqing army based on the fierceness and agility of the eagle, which was used to boost morale and deter enemy forces.
The image of Hai Dongqing often appeared on the flags and emblems of the army, showing the prestige and spiritual outlook of the Liao Dynasty.
For ordinary people, the activities and roles related to Haidongqing are more restricted, ordinary people are not allowed to raise and use Haidongqing, and any contact is prohibited.
The captured Hai Dongqing was sent to the central government of the Liao Dynasty for unified management and control, so that ordinary people kept a certain distance from Hai Dongqing.
The Liao Dynasty government highly valued and controlled Haidongqing resources, and regarded falcons as a symbol of power and status, but they were difficult for ordinary people to access.
Hai Dongqing and people
At first, the quality of the Beizhu and the scarcity of production became the object of pursuit of the Liao aristocracy, but due to the difficulty of the pearling process of the Beizhu, people began to try to catch swans to obtain the Beizhu.
They noticed that the swans did not digest the northern pearl after eating it and stored it in the sac, so the Liao State set its sights on Haidongqing, an eagle known as the "god of ten thousand eagles", hoping to obtain the northern pearl eaten by the swans by domesticating this kind of eagle.
In the early days, the domestication of Haidongqing was mainly for the Liao aristocracy to catch swans and take the northern pearls, because domesticating Haidongqing required additional energy and patience, and the success rate was low, it was by no means an easy task.
The demand for domesticating Haidongqing gradually became a custom in the Liao State, resulting in a shortage of this bird of prey.
As Haidongqing was regarded as a precious resource unique to the Liao State, the Liao State began to ask the Jurchen tribe to pay tribute to Haidongqing, but due to the insufficient supply of the Jurchen tribe, they were unwilling to share this rare bird of prey with the Liao State, and instead launched a counterattack war with the Liao State.
In the end, the Jurchens won the victory and the Liao State perished, as some poets said: "Liao Jin provoked Haidongqing, and the jade claw name Eagle tribute did not stop".
Hai Dongqing has the ability to hunt swans and is known as the "God of Ten Thousand Eagles", and in Manchu culture, Hai Dongqing has always been worshipped as a noble totem, representing a strong and unyielding spirit.
The Jurchens even painted the motif of Haidongqing on their armor when they set out on their expeditions, hoping to gain their blessings and achieve victory, and Haidongqing was once again valued as a totem and symbol of the Manchu people.
Domesticating the eagle is a complex and patient process that involves training the eagle to fly and catch prey, and in order to domesticate the eagle, a method known as "boiling the eagle" is used, which leaves the eagle without rest for several days, weakening its sharpness and wildness.
During the training process, people gave Hai Dongqing lean meat with hemp rope to encourage him to spit out the indigestible substance, so that the eagle would be stronger, and the well-trained Hai Dongqing would quickly fly up and catch prey after hearing the whistle, and then wait for the owner to feed the internal organs.
What is particularly special is that they are not only used in the hunting activities of the nobility, but also that their special function makes them valued in the judicial system.
Taking the Qing Dynasty as an example, if a soldier can capture a Haidongqing and hand it in, he can get a commutation or even release, which fully shows the preciousness and value of Haidongqing from the side, and can reach the extent that it is worth a human life.
The current situation and protection of Haidongqing
With the rapid development of human economic and social activities, the living environment of Haidongqing is facing a serious threat. Overhunting is one of the main reasons for its scarcity.
In order to obtain their precious feathers, furs, bones or to be attracted by their unique form and beautiful flight, some people illegally hunt these birds, and the relevant authorities should crack down on poaching and trafficking, strengthen law enforcement, and ensure that effective protection measures are implemented.
Large-scale road, construction and agricultural development has led to the reduction of habitats, as well as environmental pollution and noise disturbances, making it difficult for Haidongqing to adapt and survive.
The government should strengthen habitat protection and restrictions to ensure that Haidongqing can live in a safe and suitable environment.
The shortage of food resources also poses a threat to the survival of Haidongqing, as a bird of prey, Haidongqing needs an abundance of birds and mammals as a food source.
However, human activities have led to a decline in the number of birds and mammals, making it difficult for Haidongqing to find food.
Measures to control overhunting and poaching need to be adopted to maintain balance in the food chain and protect the sea.
It is also important to raise public awareness of the need to protect Haidongqing, and through popular science campaigns, educational lectures and viewing activities, we can enhance the public's awareness and motivation to protect the environment.
Everyone should be aware that biodiversity is essential for the balance of the Earth's environment, and the loss of any species can have unpredictable consequences.
Haidongqing is not only a precious bird of prey, but also represents our harmonious coexistence with nature. The protection of Haidongqing is not only a matter of protecting species, but also a manifestation of the development of human morality and civilization.
The protection of Haidongqing requires the joint efforts of the government and all sectors of society, and government departments should strengthen the implementation and enforcement of protection measures to ensure that the habitat and food chain of Haidongqing are effectively protected.
The public should raise their awareness of environmental protection and the motivation to protect it, and play the role of guardian of the ecological environment. International cooperation is also an important way to protect the sea and its habitat, and we should strengthen cooperation to protect the sea and its habitat, and create a rich and diverse home for the earth.
In order to protect this precious and unique species, Haidongqing, so that they can continue to soar freely under the blue sky with our joint efforts, let's take action!
The author thinks
The symbolic meaning of Haidongqing has long gone beyond its actual existence, and it has become the embodiment of the indigenous spirit of Northeast China.
Although Haidongqing is becoming more and more rare in reality, its spiritual power will always inspire us to move forward bravely, pursue excellence, and devote ourselves to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Let the soul of Haidongqing burn in our hearts, and let our efforts contribute to the protection of nature and the realization of harmonious development.