Preface
In ancient times, the city gate was an important gateway to the city, and closing the city gate at night was a regular measure at that time. However, for those who have not returned home after the city gates are closed, is it really "impossible to get out"?
This question haunts historians and imaginative people. In fact, the closure of the ancient city gates did not mean that the city was completely closed, but there was a measure, which was the famous "curfew" system.
Where, then, is the curfew sacred, so unscrupulous to deprive people of their freedom, and for what reason did it arise?
Fire prevention and maintenance Curfews are born for a reason
Fire is human's best friend, but if left unchecked, it can also become the most feared killer. In ancient times, torches and candles were the main tools of lighting, and if you are not careful, you can cause serious disasters. The Great Fire in Lin'an City in the Song Dynasty is the best example of this.
One night in 1201, just a little spark, but it swallowed the whole city in an instant. At that time, most of the houses in Lin'an City were wooden structures, and the lighting tools were flammable, so once a fire broke out, the fire would spread rapidly.
The fire caused staggering damage, with 180,000 people recorded as casualties. In the face of such a thrilling scene, the curfew system came into being and became an important means of fire prevention.
The curfew was introduced mainly to limit people's activities at night and reduce the chance of fires. After all, in the dark of night, many people will be negligent and will accidentally start a fire. Once a fire has spread, it can be very difficult to extinguish it in time. Therefore, the curfew and the obligation to stay at home at night greatly reduce the risk of fires.
In addition to fire prevention, policing is another important reason for curfews. The darkness provided an excellent cover for the gangsters, who took advantage of the darkness to cause mad havoc and pose a great security hazard to the city. For example, criminal activities such as theft, robbery, and homicide often occur at night.
In order to curb these night-time crimes, curfews are naturally on the agenda. By restricting people's activities at night, the curfew system greatly reduces the chance of crime occurring. After all, once it gets dark, many people choose to stay at home instead of going out easily.
In this way, the space for criminals to operate will be greatly reduced, and the law and order situation in the city will be improved accordingly. It can be said that curfews have played an indispensable role in maintaining social order.
In general, the introduction of the curfew system is mainly for the sake of fire prevention and law and order. In the social environment at that time, this practice was undoubtedly very necessary. Although it has brought some inconvenience to people's lives, on the whole, it does ensure the safe operation of ancient cities to a certain extent, and prevent problems before they occur.
Restraint of authority No one wants to be presumptuous
Once the curfew is opened, whether you are a prince or a commoner, you have to obediently follow the arrangement, and don't want to run around at night. Even General Li Guang, who was in an important position, once missed the hour because of alcoholism and was severely taught a lesson by the soldiers on duty.
That night, Li Guang was so drunk that he lost his mind. He wanted to use his identity as a general to pass through the city domineeringly, but he was unexpectedly stopped by a Baling Lieutenant. In the face of this powerless little official, Li Guang was helpless, so he could only find a corner to spend the night and wait until dawn to go home.
This incident fully demonstrates the authority of the curfew. During the curfew, whoever you are, you must follow the rules and there must be no violation. Even a general like Li Guang had to bow his head and admit his mistake in the face of the curfew. It can be seen that the binding force of the curfew is beyond doubt, and no one should underestimate it.
The main reason why the authority of the curfew is so strong is that it represents the will of the ruler. In ancient societies, the emperor was the supreme being, and every order he gave had to be strictly enforced. And the curfew is a decree issued by the emperor in order to maintain social order, so no one dares to slack off.
Even ordinary people cannot escape in the face of curfews. Although they do not have the power and status of Li Guang, they also have to abide by the rules of the curfew. If any violation is discovered, severe punishment is immediate. This strict restraint made the lives of the ancients suffer.
From this incident, we can see that the authority of the curfew is unquestionable, and no one should try to underestimate it. Even high-ranking figures are a small speck of dust in the face of curfews, let alone ordinary people. This kind of strict restraint undoubtedly made the lives of the ancients suffer, but it was an inevitable choice to maintain social order.
The hardships of escaping the longing for freedom of the ancients
Despite the binding force of the curfew, the yearning for freedom in human nature has never stopped. The ancients tried all kinds of ways to escape the curfew.
The most common way to do this is to swim across a moat. But this road is by no means easy, because there are layers of checkpoints waiting for you on the other side of the river. The first is the heavily guarded "sheep and horse wall", followed by deadly traps such as horse repellents and horse pits, which are specially designed to defend against enemy forces.
Even if you get past these levels, what awaits you is an even harsher reality - by that time, you will already be exhausted, and the officers and soldiers will probably have surrounded you, and all efforts will be in vain.
This kind of hardship and danger undoubtedly cast a shadow on the escape path of the ancients. No matter how much they yearn for freedom, they have no choice but to give up in the end. After all, in such an environment, it would be a fool's dream to escape the curfew.
However, not everyone will choose this risky approach. Some people are smarter and choose to obtain special rights of way through legal channels. In the Tang Dynasty, for example, officials who went to serve in other places were allowed to enter and leave the city gates freely for a specified period of time, and were exempt from curfews.
It's also more secure, not only to be safe, but also to avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, once caught, not only will they be severely punished, but they may also be wanted by the government. Therefore, it is wiser to apply for a permit from the authorities, and officials will often open up if there is a good reason to do so.
In general, despite the inconvenience caused by the curfew, the ancients did not give up their quest for freedom. Whether it was risking an escape or applying legally, the ancients were trying to break free from the curfew in their own way.
The pros and cons of curfews Ancient and modern paths are the same
Throughout history, the pros and cons of curfew regimes have been debated. From a positive point of view, it did ensure the safe operation of the ancient city to a certain extent, preventing problems before they occurred. On the negative side, it also deprives people of basic freedom of movement and brings great inconvenience to nightlife.
Let's start with its positive effects. The curfew system was introduced mainly for the purpose of fire prevention and law and order. In the social environment at that time, this practice was undoubtedly very necessary.
After all, in the event of a fire or crime, the consequences are unimaginable. By restricting people's movement at night, curfews greatly reduce the chance of these risks and ensure the safe functioning of cities.
But at the same time, the curfew system also brought a lot of inconvenience to the lives of the ancients. At night, people are not free to go out, and many entertainment activities have to be cancelled. This has greatly reduced people's living space and made them feel tormented. What's more, some important official activities may also be hindered by curfews.
However, with the progress of society, today's curfew is long gone. Our motherland is strong, the law and order is good, and the people are completely free to enjoy the nightlife. This is perhaps the biggest difference between ancient and modern.
In modern society, people are no longer bound by curfews and can go out as much as they want. Whether it's work or play, there are no more restrictions. This has also greatly improved people's quality of life, allowing them to spend their time more freely.
Overall, the curfew system played an important role in ancient societies, but it also brought a lot of inconvenience to people's lives. Now, with the progress of society, this system has long been a thing of the past, and people can finally enjoy the joy of freedom. This is perhaps the biggest difference between ancient and modern.
epilogue
In general, although the curfew brought a lot of inconvenience to the ancients, its existence was also forced by the environment at the time, and it was a helpless move.
We are free to go out today thanks to the prosperity of the country, and the reason why the ancients were trapped in the curfew was precisely because of the special circumstances of the society at that time.
From this point of view, although the curfew system is gone, the pursuit of human freedom reflected in it is an eternal theme.