In ancient times, late-night beatings were used to maintain social order and the safety of residents. Guarding refers to patrolling at night, reporting the time, reminding residents of fire prevention, anti-theft and other work. Although the sound of the watch may disturb the sleep of some people, the wisdom of the ancients through the watch is impressive. This article will unveil the mystery of the ancient late-night watch from the perspective of the origin, function, and how the ancients dealt with the sound of the watch.
In ancient times, due to the lack of modern communication tools and lighting facilities, the security situation at night was relatively poor. In order to maintain social order and ensure the safety of residents' lives and property, the ancients came up with the method of beating the watch. According to historical records, the first time to appear in the Zhou Dynasty, it was called "night patrol". In the Tang Dynasty, the system of beating the watch was gradually improved, and the detailed time and route of the watch were stipulated.
The main functions of the watch are fourfold: First, to tell the time so that residents know what time it is in the middle of the night; second, to remind residents to pay attention to fire prevention and theft prevention; third, to report abnormal situations in a timely manner, such as discovering fires and thieves; and fourth, to deter criminals and reduce the crime rate. By beating the watch, the ancients succeeded in maintaining a relatively stable state of law and order at night.
However, the sound of the watch does have an impact on the sleep of the residents. In order to solve this problem, the ancients took a series of measures. First of all, in terms of the time and route arrangement of the watch, the ancients avoided residential areas as much as possible and chose relatively empty roads for patrolling. Secondly, in the selection of changing tools, the ancients used softer utensils such as wooden bangs and gongs to reduce noise. In addition, the ancients also prescribed the volume and rhythm of the beating, so that the sound could be conveyed to residential areas without being too harsh.
Despite this, the sound of the watch will still affect some residents. In this case, the ancients showed great wisdom. They invented an item called the "Sound Pillow", which puts cotton, tea and other fillings into the pillow to play the role of sound insulation and calming the nerves. At the same time, the ancients also advocated drinking a glass of warm milk or honey water before going to bed, which helps to fall asleep. To a certain extent, these methods alleviated the impact of snorting sound on residents' sleep.
It is worth mentioning that in ancient times, watchmen also took on many other responsibilities when performing their tasks. For example, in the winter, they remove snow to ensure that the roads are clear, and in the summer, they keep mosquitoes away and protect the living environment of the residents. It can be said that beating is an important part of the ancient social security system, and beating people is the guardian of the safety of residents.
In short, in ancient times, late-night work was to maintain social order and the safety of residents, although the sound may affect the sleep of some people, but the ancients successfully minimized the impact through a series of measures. At the same time, the watchman also undertakes many other responsibilities and provides convenience for the residents' lives. The wisdom embodied by the ancients in the system of beating the watch is sincerely admired.