Rugao population 1.4456 million (Rugao Yearbook in 2003), with a population of 978 per square kilometer, is a densely populated area in China and even in the world. Rugao is a famous longevity area in China, and the age structure ratio of the city's population exceeds all the indicators of population aging and longevity areas stipulated by the United Nations: in 2002, there were more than 40,000 elderly people over 80 years old in Rugao; There are more than 4600 people over 90 years old. The average life expectancy of the city's population is 75.59 years, which is 4.59 years higher than the national average (7 1 year) and 9.59 years higher than the world average, indicating that Rugao has entered the ranks of longevity areas. The number of centenarians in Rugao is the highest in similar areas in China. In 2002, the number of centenarians in Rugao was 172, which has increased year by year recently. In 2003, it was 195, and in 2004 it was 209. In 2004, centenarians accounted for 1.44/ 10,000 of the total population, which was much higher than the United Nations standard for longevity areas (0.75/ 10,000) and even higher than the domestic standard for longevity towns (0.3/ 10,000) published by China. According to statistics in 2003, there are 17875 centenarians in China. The number of centenarians in two other longevity areas in China is: 69 in Bama, Guangxi; There are 48 people in Zhongxiang, Hubei. First, Rugao has a long history. Rugao has a long history, and Rugao has a long history of longevity. According to historical records, the longevity celebrities in Rugao history are: Lv Dai, a strategist in the Three Kingdoms period, became a warrior at the age of 92, and was buried in Linzi Town, Rugao at the age of 97. Hu Yuan, an educator in the Northern Song Dynasty, presided over imperial academy for sixty years and was honored as "Confucius and Mencius" by Wang Anshi. Li Yu, a famous dramatist, aesthetician, publisher, novelist and drama theorist in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, wrote Dictionary and Exercise at the age of 70, which pioneered China's drama theory. At the end of Ming Dynasty and the beginning of Qing Dynasty, a writer ventured across the border at the age of 83, and was praised by Chairman Mao as "the person with the most national integrity after the Qing soldiers entered the customs". Yuan Mei, a great poet in Qing Dynasty, wrote Poems with the Garden, which records that Song Li celebrated his birthday for 30 years every year from the age of 80, and lived to the age of 109. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the historical materials about Rugao Shouxing are mainly Rugao County Records. The genealogy or genealogy of Rugao's famous surname, Rugao Local Records printed by Qin Zhun (printed in Guangxu 3 1 order) and so on. Rugao, the hometown of longevity in China today, is the continuation and reappearance of the historical longevity phenomenon. Rugao county records not only the names and ages of thousands of long-lived elderly people, but also rich historical materials such as family members, resumes and personality characteristics of long-lived elderly people. These historical materials are of great research value for us to understand longevity history, interpret longevity culture and explain longevity phenomenon. These historical materials are the precious heritage of Rugao history and culture, and also the treasure in the treasure house of China longevity history and culture. The phenomenon of longevity in Rugao is not only found in historical written records, but also in the naming of buildings such as streets and bridges in Rugao. Rugao has 6 Baisuifang, 100 Baisuizhuang 1 seat, 3 Baisui Bridge, 2 Baisuijing and 100 Baisuixiang 1 seat, and there are 6 Shoushan and temples to commemorate, pray and symbolize longevity. Second, Rugao's longevity has attracted the attention of domestic and foreign media. Since 1997 CCTV I, II and IV broadcast Rugao's 10 centenarians' Millennium Banquet, overseas media such as Global Times of Canada and Le Monde of Germany have come to Rugao for interviews. Among them, on the eve of Hong Kong's return to China, Chen Manbangying personally made 65,438,000 sachets and gave them to children in Hong Kong. Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa sent a special thank-you letter, which became a much-told story. 1998 Before the Spring Festival, ten centenarians made "New Year greeting cards" to pay a New Year call to the people of the whole country through the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, which was once widely spread by domestic and foreign media and attracted the attention of domestic experts on aging. China Aging Science Research Center came to Rugao to conduct a health survey on 50 centenarians. Experts believe that Rugao is located in the plain, which is similar to most eastern regions and some central and western regions of China. The study of Rugao longevity can be used for reference. In June of the same year 165438+ 10, Hong Kong's Ming Pao reported that Rugao, Jiangsu has been ranked as the six longevity towns in China along with Bama, Zhongxiang, Leshan, Sichuan, Yike, Xinjiang and Xinglong, Liaoning. Professor Liu Daiyue from China Academy of Social Sciences sent a letter to inform the city of this information, which made people feel like a rude awakening. At ordinary times, they only know that there are many long-lived elderly people in Rugao, but they don't know their status in the long-lived areas of the country. Rugao Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government believes that longevity is something that Rugao people should be proud of, indicating that Rugao has a superior economic and social environment. We should pay full attention to and tap this resource, issue the city card of "World Longevity and Health" to the world in time, and arouse the world's attention and response. Zhang, Wu Cangping, and other well-known domestic experts have come to Rugao for investigation. On June 5438+ 10, 2002, the first "Rugao China Longevity Culture Festival" was successfully held, which fully demonstrated the charming charm of longevity and health preservation to the world. 65,438+005 centenarians and elderly people went to the "Long Live Peace and Prosperity Banquet", which pushed the longevity series of cultural activities to a climax and created a precedent in the history of China. In 2003, CCTV's "Sunset Red" column group stationed in Rugao for many times to shoot the highlights of Rugao's life and longevity cultural activities, as the main background and highlights of the special program "Chongyang Today" for the 0/0 anniversary of the launch of "Sunset Red", so that the world can share the fun of Rugao's longevity culture and experience the true meaning of Rugao's longevity phenomenon. Three. Factors affecting the longevity of Rugao people In order to explore the reasons why Rugao has become a longevity area, in June 2002, with the care and support of four teams in the city, Rugao Longevity Research Association was established. Since the establishment of Longevity Research Association two years ago, on the basis of full investigation, we have organized forces to carry out research activities around the related factors that cause the longevity phenomenon in Rugao, and achieved some results. After two years of practice, they have two understandings: 1. The formation of Rugao longevity phenomenon is not a one-off event, but a historical development process. The earliest record of the birthday star in Rugao can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms period, which has been 1750 years ago. Today's centenarians were born at the beginning of the last century, and have gone through the vicissitudes of 100 years. When analyzing the mystery of their longevity, we must put them in the long history of a hundred years. Therefore, to interpret Rugao's longevity phenomenon, we must use the viewpoint of historical materialism, considering both realistic factors and historical factors. 2. Rugao is located in the jianghai plain, and its natural geographical environment and social and economic activities are not closed. Therefore, Rugao's longevity cannot be explained by a single factor. Obviously, it is the result of the superposition of many factors, including natural factors, human factors and the reasons for the longevity of the elderly. After more than two years of investigation, they also preliminarily think that there are several factors that affect Rugao's longevity: (1) natural environmental factors: 1, and the temperature is mild, comfortable and pleasant. Rugao is located at 32 00 ′-32 30 ′ north latitude, and belongs to the humid climate zone in the north subtropical zone. The annual average temperature is 14.7℃, and the hottest average temperature in July is 27. 1℃. In recent 40 years, the lowest temperature was below-10℃ for only 7 days, and the annual average temperature was above 35℃ for only 5.4 days. 2. Adequate rain and moderate humidity. The annual precipitation in Rugao is about 1 0,056.8 mm, and the average precipitation days are 1 0,654.38+0.9.4 days. The number of rainstorm days over 50 mm is only 3.2 days, and the annual average relative humidity is 80%, which makes people feel cheerful and energetic. The air is fresh and green. As Rugao enjoys superior climatic conditions, lush forests and green vegetation all year round, there are 500 ginkgo trees 1.500, 850 cypress trees, 800 pine trees, 300 Podocarpus, 300 boxwood trees and 300 five-needle pine trees in Rugao. These "living fossils" show Rugao's profound cultural heritage. Since ancient times, Rugao people have paid attention to the environmental greening of the courtyard and the arrangement of indoor bonsai, and have a good reputation as the bonsai capital of flowers and trees in China. Rugao ordinary farmers are "there are big trees in front, big bamboos in the back, and halls in the middle". They think that the number of trees is a symbol of wealth. Since ancient times, there has been a saying that "the poor people show meat and the poor villages show houses". Rugao is full of vitality, and the gardens in full of green beautify the environment, cultivate the mood, purify the air and increase the content of negative ions, which is a great enjoyment for people's body and mind. 4. Rivers crisscross and the water quality is excellent. Rugao has a dense water network, criss-crossing rivers and connecting with the Yangtze River, rich drinking water sources and excellent water quality. Rugao people like to drink "Tianshui" when drinking tea, and they also like to use Pogostemon, Mint and Hedyotis diffusa (scientific name Plantago) instead of tea to cool off the heat. These traditional Chinese medicines have health-care functions such as dispelling summer heat and strengthening stomach. Now there are wells in rural areas, but tap water has been widely used in cities, and the "clear spring" project is being implemented in rural areas to popularize drinking tap water. According to the survey data of drinking water sources over the years, the compliance rate of drinking water sources in Rugao City is 98.5%. All the chemical indexes have been kept within Grade I-II standards. The human body is rich in trace elements such as iron, manganese, zinc and selenium, while some trace elements such as manganese and iron exceed the standard. According to literature, manganese has lipophilic, anticancer and anti-aging effects in human body, and moderate high manganese is beneficial to human health. 5. The soil resources are diverse and rich in products. The main source of Rugao soil is the Yangtze River alluvium, which is influenced by the Huaihe River alluvium, which makes the mineral composition of Rugao soil parent material more complicated and lays the foundation for the diversity of soil element composition. The complex soil resources form Rugao's rich foundation planting resources, which lays a solid foundation for the diversity of Rugao's plant resources. Rugao is rich in rice, wheat, corn, beans, potatoes and peanuts. There are many famous local products here, such as Rugao radish strips, Rugao rice wine, Rugao ham, Rugao sausage, Rugao floss, Baipu dry tea and Lin Zichao cakes. (II) Social and humanistic factors In addition to the natural environment, Rugao people's longevity also has social and humanistic factors: 1, Rugao folk customs are simple, and respecting the old and loving the young has become a common practice. According to Rugao County Records and Customs published in the thirty-ninth year of Jiajing in Ming Dynasty (1569), Rugao people were described as "gentle in temperament and vulgar in quality". People are afraid of the law and ashamed of sin, while scholars learn and follow reason. The subject collection is easy and the lawsuit is simple. ..... crowns, faints, funerals, sacrifices, customs and rituals, and more. " Fear of law and shame, rational study, simple litigation and imprisonment, and frugality are the true portrayal of Rugao's simple folk customs at that time. 1933 "Jiangsu Records Draft" said that Rugao was rated as "clean" in the province's folk customs survey. Filial piety is the essence of Chinese ethics and the traditional virtue of the Chinese nation. The fashion of respecting and loving the elderly has been passed down from generation to generation in Rugao. "A family as old as a treasure" is like the rules and regulations in Rugao countryside. Children do not regard the elderly as a burden, but as the glory of the family. If there are elderly people at home, their children will be respected by people in society, which provides the best social environment for the health and longevity of the elderly. On June 5438+ 10, 2002, the municipal party Committee and the municipal government issued the "eight-in-one" project of respecting, caring for, helping and caring for the elderly, namely: longevity allowance, in which each elderly person with 100 or above enjoys 80 yuan longevity allowance every month; A bottle of milk, each person over 95 years old provides a bottle of milk free of charge every day; Physical examination once, each person over 90 years old has a physical examination once a year, the municipal government organizes medical staff to visit the elderly over 100, and the town government organizes physical examination for the elderly over 90-99 years old; City leaders offer condolences to centenarians once a year; On a birthday, the government gave a color TV to the elderly over 100 years old; Every year, a model family appraisal activity is carried out for families with elderly people over 85 years old, which is commended by the government and further promotes the improvement of the quality of life of the elderly. 2. Warm the family and prolong life. Family should be a happy and warm harbor, especially for ordinary people and elderly people with long life. The survey shows that 94. 1% of Rugao centenarians live with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Some elderly people have no sons, and their daughters and sons-in-law will assume the responsibility of providing for the elderly; Some children died, and grandchildren took responsibility; Others are handled by nephews and nieces. It should be said that most people who live a long life can live a long life, and their descendants do contribute. They give the elderly financial support, material security, life care and spiritual comfort. Four or five generations live under one roof, with children and grandchildren around their knees, respecting the old and loving the young. This is the traditional culture and virtue of Rugao, and it is also an important factor for the health and longevity of the elderly. The so-called "harmonious families are happier, and happy families live longer" is precisely the truth. (3) Self-factors of the long-lived elderly. In 2002, Rugao conducted a questionnaire survey on 1 19 centenarians in the city. The contents of the survey include 9 items and 82 orders, including personal brief history, living habits, diet, spouse, children, elders, brothers and sisters, and health history. The survey results show that there are more than a dozen centenarians in Rugao; There are more women (85%), fewer men (15%), more drinkers (66.2%) and fewer smokers (77% never smoke). Most of them are illiterate and semi-blind (86.6%), and few of them are highly educated (1). Most of the centenarians who are engaged in manual and mental work have children (5.56 on average), and few of them have never had children (7.3%). Among brothers and sisters, the longevity of the first child is 40.5%, and the probability of longevity after the second child is small (30. The quintuplets (7.6%) had much higher sleep quality (90%), less insomnia (2.5%), more diet (74%), more partial eclipse, less infectious diseases (90%) and less infectious diseases (2.3%). Centenarians were born around the beginning of last century, and they also experienced a hundred years of famine. They think that besides the objective factors such as society and nature, there are also their own factors, which must be related to their genetics and living habits. Judging from the above survey results, it is difficult to summarize the living habits of centenarians, but there are two things in common. First, poor tea and light rice. The eating habits of centenarians are mainly vegetarian, refusing to eat big fish and meat, and eating and drinking. Rugao folk songs say: "Fish makes a fire, meat produces phlegm, and tofu dishes keep peace." Diet is generally thin every day. The staple food is not only rice and flour, but also miscellaneous grains such as corn, wheat and potatoes. This thick food structure provides Rugao people with a variety of easily absorbed nutrients. As the saying goes, Rugao people can live over 90 years old after eating porridge and rice. The second is peace of mind. Among the centenarians surveyed, most people always hold an open-minded attitude towards life, people and things around them and themselves. Except for reasons such as deafness and unresponsiveness, some old people rarely express their feelings in words, and few people are depressed. According to the survey, centenarians are cheerful and open-minded, regardless of people's rights and wrongs, and always maintain an open-minded spiritual realm. They are gentle and have a harmonious relationship at home and in the neighborhood. The ancients said: "The heart is not old, but people are hard to get old." It seems that "the heart is not old" is indeed the experience of centenarians to win health and longevity.