introduction
In traditional Chinese culture, animal sounds are not just a part of nature, they are often endowed with special meanings and omens. From ancient times to the present, people have tried to decipher the "message" conveyed by observing the behavior and sounds of animals. This phenomenon not only reflects people's curiosity and awe of the unknown, but also reflects a wisdom of living in harmony with nature.
The old people in our village said, "Four shouts in the middle of the night is not a good omen", once you hear it, you should pay attention! So what does this really mean? What exactly are the "4 screams"?
Chickens crow in the middle of the night
In rural China, the crow of chickens is the prelude to the early morning and heralds the beginning of a new day. But in traditional stories, the sound of a rooster also has its own special meaning. For example, the story of Zhou Papi learning to crow in the middle of the night tells the story of a greedy landlord who imitates the crow of a rooster in the middle of the night in order to force workers to get up early to work, and is found out. The story, while ironic and humorous, also reflects the weight of the rooster's crow in people's hearts.
In the past, in the countryside, the rooster crow was a signal, like the dawn of the day. Every time people hear a rooster crow, they actually know it's going to be dawn. Therefore, if the rooster crows in the middle of the night, it will disturb people's judgment or make people feel ominous.
In folk beliefs, a rooster crows in the middle of the night is often considered a bad omen. It is believed that this could be a sign of the death of someone in the family or the impending natural disaster. This belief may stem from the sensitivity of chickens to light, which begins to crow before dawn, and this sudden cry is especially abrupt in the dead of night, which tends to cause alarm and uneasiness.
From a scientific point of view, roosters may crow in the middle of the night because light interferes with their biological clock. The biological clock in a rooster's body is very sensitive to light changes, and even a faint change in light may prompt them to start crowing. This phenomenon is especially common in modern life, as nighttime lights and the light of electronic devices can easily interfere with the chickens' biological clocks, causing them to crow at inappropriate times.
Half-night screams
As the most loyal friend of human beings, the bark of dogs also carries rich meanings in traditional culture. Traditionally, barking at night is considered a sign of strangers or hoodoo approaching. This belief may stem from the dog's territoriality and wariness of strangers. In ancient times, dogs were often used to watch over home homes, and their sensitive reactions to unusual situations, such as the approach of strangers, can indeed alert owners to potential dangers.
More than ten years ago, our next-door neighbor Da Shen had a dog at home. The dog was very well-behaved and never barked. Once, in the middle of the night, the dog barked non-stop, so Da Shen got up to stop it, and saw several figures at the door. Seeing the lights in the house on, they fled in all directions.
The next morning, I heard that the dog of the Da Shen family had died, and it was poisoned. Everyone speculated that that night, several thieves were about to patronize Da Shen's house, but they were discovered by their dog, the dog kept barking, and several thieves simply poisoned the dog directly, but the dog barked louder, which directly woke up the owner, so that the thief did not succeed.
In modern society, the causes of dog barking can be far more complex than traditional beliefs believe. The modern interpretation is that the dog's barking may be due to stranger proximity or discomfort, most likely due to a thief in the house, but it can also be due to other reasons, such as boredom or hunger. A dog's bark is a form of communication that they use to express their needs, emotions, and warnings. Therefore, we should not simply dismiss dog barking as a bad omen, but should focus more on the reasons behind their barking.
From a scientific point of view, dogs have very keen senses, and they are able to perceive small changes that humans cannot detect, such as tiny sounds or smells. A dog's bark can convey information, but it should not be overly superstitious. For example, a dog may react to a smell in the wind or a distant sound, which does not mean that there is really a threat approaching. Understanding the science behind dog barking can help us communicate better with them while also avoiding unnecessary panic.
meow
Cat meows also have a special meaning in traditional culture. In some rural areas, cat meows are thought to be bad luck, especially those heard in the middle of the night. This belief may be related to the nocturnal habits of cats, whose barking during nocturnal hunting often makes people feel mysterious and uneasy.
In personal experience, the rural saying is that a cat meow in the middle of the night is not auspicious, and it is often a sign of bad luck, and it may be bad luck to hear a cat meow. This belief reflects to some extent people's fear of the unknown and their mystique about cats. However, from a scientific point of view, cat meows are often associated with estrus. Cats make special calls during estrus to attract the attention of the opposite sex. This call is related to the breeding behavior of cats, and it should not be superstitious that it will bring misfortune.
Crows crow
In Chinese culture, the crow is often depicted as a symbol of bad luck, and its call is often considered a harbinger of misfortune. In ancient literature, the appearance of crows often heralded death or disaster, and this idea was so deeply rooted in the hearts of the people that in some places, people still have taboos about crows.
Modern observations have found that crows are very sensitive to natural changes, and their calls can be a warning of something unusual. As a very intelligent bird, crows are able to sense small changes in their environment and survive and reproduce through adaptive behaviors in their environment. Therefore, the crows' calls may be more a reflection of their sensitivity to environmental changes than a harbinger of bad luck.
From a scientific point of view, the crow's call is related to weather changes. Crows are able to communicate and relay information through sound, and their calls when the weather changes may be a reminder of an impending storm or cold snap in their companions. In addition, the crows' calls may also be related to their food source. When food is scarce, crows will use their cries to attract their companions to look for food together.
conclusion
In modern society, we should combine scientific cognition to deal with situations in life. When it comes to animal calls, we should focus more on the reasons behind them rather than simply seeing them as ominous omen. By understanding the science behind animal behavior, we can better live in harmony with them, while also avoiding unnecessary panic and misunderstandings.
We need to recognize that animal sounds are part of the natural world, and their presence enriches our lives and provides us with the opportunity to learn about nature. We should cherish the time we spend with animals, understand and respect them with a rational and scientific attitude, and jointly create a harmonious and beautiful living environment.