Preface
Going back in time to the era of the Qing Dynasty, we will find a picture of society that is very different from today. In this long history, the customs of the Qing Dynasty are like a unique picture, including clothing, weddings, dinner tables and other aspects are full of delicacy and exquisiteness.
This article will delve into the customs and habits of the Qing Dynasty, revealing the fine culture of the society at that time in terms of clothing, marriage, food, etc. Through historical traceability, we will restore the unique appearance of Qing Dynasty society and deeply analyze the meticulous tastes that people pursued in all aspects of life at that time.
Through time, we will feel the unique charm of that ancient era and explore how the customs of the Qing Dynasty reflected the delicacy of social civilization in the subtlety. Through in-depth interpretation, we may be able to more fully understand the uniqueness of Qing society in terms of customs and habits, as well as the essence of civilization in that historical period.
After being forced to shave his hair, he changed to Hanfu and implemented full clothes
The Qing Dynasty was a great era of multi-ethnic coexistence. The Manchus, the ruling ethnic groups, and the Han nationality under rule, influenced and blended their living customs. The rulers of the Qing Dynasty also used coercion to change some of the lifestyles of the Han people.
In the first year of Shunzhi (1644), soon after the Qing army entered the Central Plains, it issued a decree to shave hair and change clothes. This shocked many Han Chinese, who had become a feature of Han Chinese in their hair ties, and the custom of the Manchus and northern minorities to shave their hair and braids.
The order of "shaving hair and making it easy to obey" suddenly touched the sensitive nerves of the Han people. When the Ming Dynasty fell, the Ming officers and soldiers who could not form an army and the people who lost their homes were displaced. The turmoil and chaos of this era left many Han Chinese feeling lost and helpless spiritually. For a while, they could only bear the arrangement and heavy blow of fate, and the pain in their hearts was beyond measure.
In this context, the seemingly trivial matter of hair has become an important identity in their hearts. Because the change of hairstyle is directly related to their symbol and pride as a traditional Chinese descendant. This final bottom line also seems to disappear under the razor of the Manchus...... Many words can't render the tragedy and panic in the hearts of the people at that moment.
However, in the face of the Qing army that entered the Central Plains, the Han people could not resist and could only do so. The family shaved the hair in front of their foreheads and braided the hair at the back of their heads. This makes the Han people who are used to tying their hair extremely heartbroken. When they were confronted with the unfamiliar appearance reflected in the mirror, many had red eyes. With painful eyes, they stared at the face that had faded to its familiar contours, and before they could get used to it, they had to accept more heavy blows of fate......
The Yi Yi Order, on the other hand, required the Han Chinese to wear the traditional Manchu arrow skirt instead. This kind of clothing has a narrow neckline and slim cuffs, which is very different from the wide and comfortable Hanfu, which makes the Han people feel awkward. There is also an order that only fine cloth is allowed to be worn, which also makes many people uncomfortable.
For those dignitaries who have no worries about food and clothing, this may only be a small change in life. But for the majority of people who have lost their homes for the first time, even the most simple dignity of clothing is lost, and their despair can be imagined.
These makeover orders caused a lot of backlash. In the face of the revolt, those in power eventually relented: the shaving order was suspended, leaving the people free. This "drag drama" started like this, and it didn't come to the end. The script was rewritten, and the people were relieved.
However, this "drag movement" did promote the collision and integration of Manchu and Han cultures. In the years that followed, the traditional costumes of the Manchu and Han dynasties continued to influence each other, and finally formed a new chapter in Chinese costume culture. The elements of Hanfu and Manfu borrowed from each other and fused with each other, achieving a model of Qing Dynasty clothing culture that fascinated future generations.
For example, the rise of cheongsam is the result of the integration of Han and Manchu cultures. It not only retains the aesthetic essence of traditional women's Hanfu, but also absorbs the tailoring elements of Manchu women's long sleeves and thin waists. This traditional women's dress with oriental charm has been popular at home and abroad.
Marriage is still the order of the parents, and the customs of the Manchu and Han dynasties are gradually the same
In Qing Dynasty society, whether Han or Manchu, marriage was mostly decided by parents. The matchmaker agreed, the parents nodded, and the children could only follow the arrangement and marry the other half who had never met.
Many of these marriages are based on interests and politics. For example, the Manchu government arranged intermarriages between Manchu officials and Mongol nobles to win people's hearts, and there were many political marriages between Manchu and Han bureaucrats, all in order to consolidate their rule. In this type of political marriage, the couple's personal feelings are the least important consideration. They're just pawns in this Game of Thrones.
However, the Manchus had traditional customs adapted to life in the north. For example, in the past, it was possible to marry with different surnames, and it did not pay attention to seniority. This was gradually replaced by strict ethics in the Manchu aristocratic society after settling in the Central Plains. It was the consensus that only allowed the door to be right. This is closer to the marriage customs of the Han people.
In the daily marriage, the Manchu women of the Qing Dynasty also had more freedom than the Han women, which maintained its national identity. Manchu women are allowed to do not bind their feet, and retain the respect for women in their traditional beliefs.
Therefore, we can see a lot of paintings depicting Manchu women, who are bare-chested and generous. This is in stark contrast to the Han underclass, where the status of women is low. From today's point of view, this reflects the progressive nature of Manchu culture.
The feast of the Qing court added color tones, and the people were fragrant when they were old
If the costumes show the hierarchical concept of Qing Dynasty society, then the festival celebrations can better reflect the colorful life scenes of this period. In the multi-ethnic melting pot of the Qing Dynasty, different cultural ethics and lifestyles such as the Manchu and Han dynasties were constantly blended, collided, and integrated, which was vividly expressed during the festival.
For example, the Lunar New Year, which is the most solemn and lively national festival in the Qing Dynasty, is deeply loved by people of all ethnic groups. New Year's Day on the first day of the first lunar month is a new beginning of the year. On this day, both rich and poor must wear new clothes, pay New Year's greetings, set off firecrackers, sacrifice, and bless. The scene was very enthusiastic.
And among them, the court nobles and the common people are different. Let's first take a look at the Forbidden City of the Prosperous Peace. The splendid Forbidden City, the majestic buildings shine in the early morning sun. The master of this world's great palace, the young and handsome Emperor Kangxi, has changed into a auspicious dress made of dark yellow satin.
He stood in front of the temple to worship the Buddha, and the jewels on his golden dragon robe shimmered in the sun. The civil and military officials who followed them lined up and bowed their heads, solemn and solemn. The emperor's worship came to an end, and all the people congratulated the Holy Lord of Qianqiu on the New Year in unison. Emperor Kangxi stood up with a smile, and in the face of the sincere blessings of the ministers, he looked particularly happy when he was young.
After a ceremony, Emperor Kangxi returned to the palace. At this time, it was already the third pole of the sun. Looking beyond the palace walls, the whole capital is bathed in sunshine and joy. Lights are lit everywhere in sight, and cooking smoke is lit. On this beautiful New Year's Day, all families are reunited and everything is fine.
The delicacies of the palace have already been prepared. The emperors and concubines enjoyed this rare family feast together. I saw sandalwood in my nose, red candles shining high, and gold and silver colors shining brightly. The air is filled with the aroma of sweet white sugar pastries. The imperial concubines behaved elegantly and calmly, picked up a piece of delicate cake and put it into their mouths, savoring the good times of Vientiane's renewal.
And in the old Beijing courtyard, the simple residents are also celebrating the New Year simply and warmly. Red candles are lit in the room, and the candles are bright, reflecting the joy of the old and young in the kimono. Although there is no jade silk ornament, it is also reunited. There are home-made dumplings and glutinous rice cakes on the table, and the family is happily eating, chatting, and celebrating this great New Year.
Outside, it's an even more lively scene. The sound of cannons is constantly ringing, as if imitating spring thunder; the red spring couplets are plastered all over every lintel, the handwriting is neat or wild, and the pen is full of power; the children holding sugar gourds chase and play in the yard, their faces are full of children's happiness...... At this moment, the hard work of the cold winter wax moon was left behind, and people enjoyed the joy and warmth of the reunion year.
This is the normal picture of the Qing Dynasty's New Year's Festival. Whether it is deep in the palace or in the miscellaneous places of the world, it is so lively and joyful, incisive. This elegant and common life scene constitutes a unique style in the long scroll of history. As the popular folk song of the time sang: "Year after year, the year is in Jiazi, the Lantern Festival is noisy, and the Duanyang ......"
epilogue
Through the above narrative, we can get a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg of life in the Qing Dynasty. But that's far from fun. From the clothes to the wedding customs, to the habits of the year, every detail contains a thousand years of anecdotes. There are so many wonderful stories flowing through this long river of history that we will not be able to tell them all in this life.
Fortunately, although the history is far away, the culture and spirit have been passed down from generation to generation. When we read ancient poems and watch the picture scrolls of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it seems that we are close at hand, and we can see the shadows of those romantic characters in the prosperous era. These elegant works constitute the treasures of Chinese civilization and give us a glimpse of the good times that have passed.