When it comes to the taste of the dishes in the palace, except for the lack of spiciness, I think the rest are pretty much the same as those in later generations. However, the variety of New Year's Eve dinners in the palace made me sigh. It can be equal to the income of an ordinary people's family for several years. Xie Daoqing is usually very frugal and mostly eats vegetarian food. I don't say anything about the occasional luxury. What's more, this is the most solemn royal New Year's Eve dinner in the year.
The New Year's Eve dinner was eaten very slowly. Under the guidance of Quan Jiu and Qiu Fei, everyone kept joking and encouraging people to drink. The atmosphere was lively. Even Xie Daoqing was laughing constantly. Compared with before, Xie Daoqing became more and more like an ordinary person. The ancestors were a little less majestic, but a little more kind. They were completely different from my earliest memories. After dinner, it was already close to midnight, and the lanterns in the palace were all lit up, illuminating everything. It's bright, as bright as day.
After a while, Xie Daoqing said: "Guan family, set off fireworks to welcome the arrival of the New Year."
"OK,"
Firecrackers in the Song Dynasty generally used paper tubes and hemp stems wrapped with gunpowder to be woven into strings, so they were made into "woven firecrackers." With the advent of gunpowder, fireworks also appeared in large numbers. According to legend, fireworks first appeared in the Tang Dynasty, and by Xuanhe in the Northern Song Dynasty (1119, 1125), real fireworks using gunpowder as raw material developed maturely, and there were already large-scale fireworks. ," this poem vividly describes the setting off of fireworks at that time. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, fireworks had become popular among the people on a large scale.
The sound of firecrackers ushers in the old year. For New Year's Eve, setting off firecrackers is the most representative way of celebration for Chinese people. Unfortunately, in later generations, many big cities have banned the setting off of fireworks, which has drastically reduced the festive atmosphere.
According to the tradition of the Song Dynasty, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, unless there are extremely special circumstances such as national mourning or a solar eclipse, the court will hold a large court meeting. This large court meeting is not to discuss national affairs, but to congratulate the whole world. , monarchs and ministers rejoice together, wishing for a new year and a new atmosphere together, the harmony of the eight tones, the New Year's Day gathering, people and gods celebrate together, barbarians and Xia come together.
Last year's New Year's Eve party was kept simple because the late emperor passed away not long ago. Even fireworks, lanterns and other celebration activities were not arranged in the palace.
According to the arrangements of the Ministry of Rites, at half past midnight (4 a.m.) on the first day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, I had already bathed and changed clothes, and arrived at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests early. Accompanied by Ma Tingluan, the Minister of Rites, I devoutly lit a stick of incense , this is the first incense stick of the New Year in the palace, named "Tianxiang", which means praying to heaven for the people of the world to have good weather and good harvests this year.
Although I stayed up until early morning in Ningkun Palace last night and barely slept the whole night, I was still full of energy. I guess it was due to the influence of the New Year atmosphere.
After the incense burning was finished, the sky had just brightened up, and I got on the sedan chair and headed towards the Daqing Palace. At this time, the palace door had not yet opened, and the officials who had already gathered were waiting outside the door, waiting for the Daqing meeting to be held.
"Your Majesty, you can summon all the officials to come to the palace to congratulate you," Ma Tingluan said while I was sitting on the dragon chair in the main hall.
"Well, Xiaoqi,"
"The little one is here,"
"The imperial guards led the officials into the palace,"
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
Lan Yu, the guard commander on duty outside the Daqing Palace, hurriedly notified Shen Mo to lead eighteen guards to the palace gate and led the officials into the palace in order of rank. I sat on the Luan Jia in the palace and looked at the ministers.
File in.
During the New Year's Day gathering, the layout of the Daqing Hall was slightly different from usual. In addition to the lanterns hanging high in the hall, the most eye-catching thing was the four mighty-looking men wearing brand-new armor and holding golden axes in their hands.
,Jinyue,Jinshan,Jinluo,standing majestically in the big hall
At the four corners of the hall, these four people are known as the generals of the palace. According to traditional customs, the generals of the palace hold various artifacts on the first day of the new year. Guarding the four corners of the hall can ensure peace in the palace for a year, just like the role of the door gods.
, this custom originated from Song Taizu and lasted throughout the Song Dynasty.
The first person to enter the hall was Jia Sidao, who was the head of the hundred officials. Among the current court ministers, although Jia Sidao's power is getting weaker and weaker, and I don't like it, he is still the prime minister, at least in name.
First in line, the next to enter were two semi-retired veterans, Lin'an University
Principal He Ji and Duke Zhao Kui, these two veterans, one civil and one military, respectively represent the civil and military ministers of the DPRK. Next are Wen Tianxiang, academician of the Government Affairs Academy, and Lu Xiufu, academician of the Military Affairs Academy, followed closely by other officials except Ma Tingluan.
Ministers of various ministries and ministers of the Central Committee, etc., and then a group of civil and military officials.
Our country has always emphasized ranking since ancient times, especially in the officialdom. Wen Tianxiang and Lu Xiufu, who were ranked fourth and fifth in the palace, were promoted so fast that all ministers were envious of them. They felt that it was reasonable and reasonable.
Beyond reason, once the emperor and his courtiers are together, it is true and true.
I saw all the officials entering and said, "Ma Aiqing, let's start."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ma Tingluan, who is well versed in etiquette, said loudly, "First of all, please ask Grand Master Jia Sidao to lead all officials to perform the New Year's ceremony and dance."
Jia Sidao walked in front of the officials and performed a ritual dance to pay homage in accordance with the movements predetermined by the Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple. The so-called ritual dance refers to a series of actions including bending down, swinging sleeves, kneeling, and standing up.
The ceremony is not a dance as we usually call it. Officials have to rehearse it repeatedly before the meeting on the first day of the first lunar month every year. No one dares to make mistakes on this occasion.
Nearly a hundred officials followed Jia Sidao in completing a full set of movements. Although not graceful enough, they looked neat.
"The ceremonial dance is completed," Ma Tingluan said, "all the officials congratulate His Majesty the Emperor, long live long live, long live long live, long live long live."
Under the leadership of Jia Sidao, all the officials knelt down again and shouted in unison: "I wish the emperor a happy new year and long life, long live the emperor, long live long live, long live long live,"
"My dear friends, please excuse me. I also wish you good health and all your wishes come true."
"Thank you, Your Majesty,"
Ma Tingluan continued: "The guards are here and thunder around the palace."
As Ma Tingluan's voice fell, several guards in green clothing appeared in the Daqing Hall. These guards were all tall and thick, with loud voices. They stretched out the syllables in a huge voice and shouted in unison, "Roar," the sound was like thunder.
, resounding throughout the hall, this method is called "thunder encircling the hall," which is also a unique celebration method of the Song Dynasty court, and no one can explain its meaning clearly.
After seeing the guards in green leaving, Ma Tingluan stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please give me your New Year's greetings."
"Dear dear friends, today is the first day of the second year of Xianchun. On the occasion of the new year, I wish that all walks of life in the Song Dynasty will prosper and move toward ZTE as soon as possible. Dear dear friends, this year is an extremely critical year for our dynasty.
In this regard, I have three requirements. First, we need to vigorously develop the economy of our country, whether it is agriculture, handicrafts, etc.
Industry, commerce, etc. must all be raised to a higher level. I have said before that to the end of the war, it is no longer a pure military competition, but more of a competition of financial resources. Of course, another important purpose of economic development is to let
Only in this way can the stability of our country be ensured that the people of our country have enough food and clothing; secondly, we must ensure that the government of our country is clean and honest.
Ming Dynasty, the officials of the imperial court are role models for the people. Only if the government affairs are clear and effective can the people be convinced. Starting from this month, I will set up an Independent Commission Against Corruption in the middle of the court and extend it to all roads and provinces within this year to supervise the performance of our officials.
Words and deeds, and the third is to strengthen armaments. Everyone knows that if Mongolia is not destroyed, our country will
There is no peace at all. I want to go to the north, but Mongolia doesn’t want to go south. Therefore, this year is also a critical year for northern Mongolia. Whoever can seize this year will gain the advantage of taking the lead in the war. Therefore, I require that we need the necessary military services.
Make sure your troops are well equipped and train them again and again to ensure victory in the Song-Mongolia war."
I paused for a moment and continued: "In the New Year and the New Year, everyone has a good rest to meet the greater challenges this year. Finally, I also wish all of you and your families a Happy New Year. May you celebrate the new year and be equal to you."
When Ma Tingluan saw me finished speaking, he said again: "Play music."
According to my request, the music played at this year's court meeting was changed to the military song of the Royal Guards Army, which is the song "Serving the Country with Loyalty" that I taught at the founding ceremony of the Royal Guards Army. In this era, there was no national anthem, so every time The music played at the New Year's Court can be called Chinese music. The last reform of Chinese music was during the Shenzong period in the sixth year of Yuanfeng (1083).
After the song ended, everyone's hearts were filled with excitement. People who had never heard it thought one after another, "What kind of song is this that makes people so excited?"
"Ma Aiqing, what's going on next?"
"Your Majesty, according to the etiquette system, the imperial meeting is divided into three steps. The first step is in the Daqing Hall. This step has ended. The second step is for your Majesty to lead hundreds of officials to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests to worship heaven and earth and the spirits of the ancestors of this dynasty. The third step is the imperial feast and song and dance performance,”
"Okay, dear friends, follow me to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests,"
Compared with Daqing Hall, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is much smaller and cannot accommodate all the officials. The worship ceremony can only be held outside the hall. This form is nothing more than going through the motions, praying to heaven and earth to ask God for good weather, and worshiping ancestors for blessings. The country is peaceful and the people are safe.
In the morning, I burned the first incense here alone, which was called "Tianxiang." At this time, all the officials each burned another incense, which was called "Earth Incense." In the afternoon, the female relatives in the harem, led by the Queen Mother Xie Daoqing, The third incense burning up to this point is called "human incense." This is the three incense ceremonies in the palace on the first day of the Lunar New Year. They are collectively called the three incense offerings of heaven, earth, and people, and their meaning is also to pray for God's blessing.
Under the careful arrangements of the Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple, after worshiping heaven, earth, ancestors, and the second step of the Great Court Ceremony came to an end.
Although these things are very simple, the collective actions of hundreds of people also took a lot of time. When they left the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, it was already noon.