Why did the ancients say, "It is better to stay in a deserted tomb in the wild than to stay in an ancient temple at night"? Are ancient temples scarier than deserted tombs?

In ancient China, there is an old saying: It is better to stay in a deserted tomb in the wild than to stay in an ancient temple at night. Why is it that ancient temples are more terrifying than deserted tombs?

The ancient temple has a history of thousands of years. It was first built by the ancients to worship their ancestors and express their grief. Later, as time went on, the ancient temples began to "diversify": some were used to worship Bodhisattvas, some were used to commemorate ancestors, and some were used to revere nature. Due to various reasons, some ancient temples have continued to provide incense and are admired by later generations; while some ancient temples have gradually fallen into disrepair due to sparse population or damage due to war. No one worships the Buddha statues and no one cleans the temples, eventually becoming desolate places.

The ancients were reluctant to go to these dilapidated ancient temples for one main reason: fear.

First of all, it is psychological fear. These ancient temples are so ruined and deserted that most people would be frightened to enter them during the day, let alone at night. In ancient times, some scholars went to Beijing to take exams in order to gain fame. They had good food and good weather all the way. Many times they could not find a tavern or inn to rest at sunset. In desperation, the ancient temples along the way became their shelter. . However, when entering an ancient temple, there is no village in front or a shop in the back. Not to mention that the conditions are extremely difficult. It is normal for a person to be worried and scared, and even have a sleepless night. It is also common for drivers to see some timid people give up going to Beijing to take the exam because of fear.

Secondly, it is physical fear. Most of the ancient temples were built very early and became damaged over time. If there is a night of wind, rain, lightning and thunder, the ancient temples are in danger of collapse at any time. People who stay here at night may be injured or killed by falling pillars, and end up with the tragic end of dying in a foreign land.

Finally, it’s the fear of robbers. Most ancient temples are located in remote places, with few people coming and going, and it is difficult for the government to take care of them. Therefore, robbers often appear in ancient temples. Some bandits even "sit down" next to ancient temples, waiting for passers-by who are looking for a place to stay. Once there were passers-by, they would rob them with swords in hand. At this time, passers-by generally do not dare to resist and can only hand over the money and belongings they carry. Once you resist, it is common to even lose your life.

For a long time, abandoned ancient temples have become a nightmare in the hearts of the people. Even if there are passers-by who can't find a place to stay at dusk, they would rather choose to stay in a place with abandoned graves. You know, deserted graves may seem scary, but you don’t have to worry about robbers and other unexpected phenomena, and it’s actually safer.