What are some "night marriage" customs in Nanyang that we don't know about?
During the Three Kingdoms period, Nanyang was an ancient city where wise men gathered. Many famous historical figures are scattered throughout Nanyang City, because this was the place where Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, made his fortune and was full of talents. It is said that Pang Tong (known as Fengchu), who Liu Bei recruited first, often drank tea and chatted with Kong Ming (known as Wolong) who lived in seclusion in Wollongong, and discussed national affairs. They often gather in Zishan to tour the mountains and view the scenery, or discuss the situation in the world, or talk about historical figures, or talk about the rise and fall of ancient and modern times. Later, after Pang Tong was killed in "Luofengpo", he recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei. This is how the story of Liu Bei's three visits to the thatched cottage in Wolonggang and "Wolong came out of the mountain" came into being. According to the traces of the two people's activities together in Zishan, later generations built Fengchu Terrace to commemorate them. According to research, there was originally an ancestral temple in Fengchutai, which included the front hall, the main hall, the left and right side halls, the mountain gate and other buildings. Due to its long history and the damage caused by the war, now only the Fengchutai ruins are left covered by weeds.
After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, named all his sons princes in order to ensure that the Zhu family dynasty would be passed down for generations. Their fiefdoms spread across the country and served as screen vassals for the central court. Zhu Yuanzhang arranged for his 23rd son, Zhu Kuang, to establish the Tang vassal state in Nanyang. Later generations called the mansion Tang Wangfu, and all the vassal kings in the past dynasties were called Zhu Wang. Zhu Huang regarded the Fengchutai ruins as a geomantic treasure and would come here from time to time for entertainment. Probably for the purpose of divination, all the Zhu kings of the Ming Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty in Nanyang built their cemeteries in Zishan, including King Ding, King Jing, King Xian, King Zhuang, King Cheng, King Jing, King Shun, King Duan, King Yu, and others. Several tombs of some princesses are located in Purple Mountain.
Nanyang Zishan Fengchutai Ruins
Later, when the Tang Dynasty held annual Tomb-Sweeping Day or Hanyi Festival sacrifices to sweep the royal tombs, the main road leading to Zishan - Meixi River It was widened and dredged, and plums and willows were planted on both sides. During the festival, several dragon boats, filled with incense smoke, row upstream against the river and reach the cemetery in a short time. In spring, willows droop with golden threads and are green; in winter, plum blossoms are dotted and the fragrance is astonishing. In order to show his royal demeanor, King Zhu changed the stone bridge built by Lu Banxiu on the Meixi River into "King Zhu Bridge". Zhuwang Bridge spans the Meixi River, which looks like the water in the south of the Yangtze River, adding to the infinite charm of Meixi River. During the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, Prince Zhu of the Tang Dynasty became more tyrannical and greedy, and the people of Nanyang lived in dire straits. In addition to enjoying himself in the palace, the king of Tang often took his concubines and slaves to visit Zishan by boat along the Meixi River. After catching a glimpse of the beautiful woman, he secretly sent someone to snatch her to the palace, live with him for three days and then release her. Therefore, the common people in Nanyang usually choose to get married at night, so as not to be seen by the king of Tang and let the people of the palace snatch them and ruin them first. This is the origin of "night marriage" in Nanyang.
Nanyang Meixi River
One day, King Zhu took a boat to Zishan. When the boat arrived at Yangjiawan, he saw a beautiful girl washing her clothes by the river, so he ordered his servants to go and snatch the bride. . Seeing that something was wrong, the girl threw away her clothes and ran away. Those minions shouted: "You woman, listen, you have to prepare your dowry within three days. We will board a colorful boat and come with loud gongs and drums to pick you up and marry King Zhu...". The woman's surname was Yang, and she was born in the twelfth lunar month. Her face was red, white and delicate, as beautiful as plum blossoms in the twelfth lunar month, so she was named Yang Lamei. Yang Lamei and her neighbor Wang Qingxi's childhood sweethearts have already been married. At the critical moment when the Yang family's daughter has finished washing her clothes and is preparing to marry Wang Jialang within three days, King Zhu is coming to steal the bride. How can we not make both men and women old and young? Are you worried?
The kings of the Ming and Tang dynasties snatched the bride's boat
Suddenly, three days had passed. King Zhu really sent people to board the colorful boat, and the gongs and drums were noisy to snatch the bride. At this moment, the two children were sitting by the river crying, and the surrounding neighbors were also scolding them. It happened that Zhang Guolao was passing by here on his auspicious cloud. When he saw the dark crowd, he transformed into an old man with a white beard and squeezed into the crowd. When he heard that "King Zhu was plundering people's wealth in Nanyang, building a large-scale construction project, and building the palace of the Tang Dynasty, he was debauched and shameless." He was extremely angry after the fact and the complaint that "Zhang Guolao should not have brought Zishan here out of anger, attracting King Zhu to visit often, causing harm to the people, and causing this disaster."
Zhang Guolao rode his donkey upside down
While he was talking, the thugs came up to snatch people away, and the two children threw themselves into the river out of hatred.
That day, Zhang Guolao rode a donkey upside down and passed by the Meixi River. He saw all this really and felt deeply sorry for the two infatuated men and women. He also expressed infinite hatred for the corrupt Tang Palace and commanded the donkey in anger. He raised his hoof and kicked towards Zishan. With a few hooves, Zishan's Mangquan was blocked, and at the same time, Zishan was trampled apart. From then on, Mangquan no longer flowed southward, and King Zhu could no longer pass by this place by boat. Zishan was formed by a high mountain. The 15 hills that are now scattered have become the mausoleums of Tang princes, indirectly contributing to the decline of the Ming and Tang dynasties.