When you see "Aibi", you may first think of "wormwood", but in fact, there is a more special and far-reaching meaning behind this word.
First of all, let's reveal the correct pronunciation of "Aibi".
It is not pronounced "ài bì", but "yì bì". The "Ai" here means "mow", which means to cut, which is completely different from the meaning of wormwood represented by its other pronunciation "ài".
When you know this pronunciation, do you think the charm of Chinese characters has increased a little?
So, what exactly does "Abbey" mean?
It does not refer to a plant, but to a symbolic penal system in ancient times. Specifically, it is to cut off the apron of the prisoner's knee pads as a sign of palace punishment.
Although this punishment does not sound very severe, in ancient societies it was actually a great humiliation to the dignity of the prisoner.
Imagine that in an ancient court or bazaar, a prisoner was sentenced to the death of "Aibi".
He was forced to cut off his apron with knee pads cut off in public, exposing his legs, which was undoubtedly a great insult to his character. The crowd of onlookers may have been meeting to comment on his crimes, and the prisoner had to endure this mental torture.
Interestingly, the penal system of "Aibi", although cruel, also reflects an attitude towards crime and punishment in ancient society.
It is not the same as direct physical harm, but rather the purpose of punishment through humiliation and deprivation of dignity. This may be seen as a manifestation of the "humanization" of the ancient legal system, although this "humanization" still seems somewhat cruel to us today.
In addition to being a penal system, the word "Aibi" also carries a rich cultural connotation.
In ancient literature, it was often used as a symbol and metaphor to represent humiliation, punishment, and atonement. Through the punishment of "Aibi", these literary works profoundly reveal the complexity of human nature and the cruelty of society.
Nowadays, the punishment of "Aibi" has become a thing of the past, but as a part of Chinese character culture, it is still worth recalling and thinking about.
Whenever we read this word, we might as well imagine the scene of ancient society and feel the weight of history and the complexity of human nature.
So, the next time you see the word "Aibi", don't just think of wormwood, there are so many interesting and far-reaching stories hidden behind it.
And, if you're lucky enough to mention it at a party or chat, share its story with your friends and they'll be amazed by your erudition!