Text/Music The ancients in China attached great importance to the south. Most emperors sit facing south, emperors will meet ministers, and doctors will see their families sitting facing south. Even in their graves a hundred years later, their tombstones always face south. So, why is this? According to his understanding of China's relevant history and culture, Lekui believes that "sitting north facing south is the most honorable thing" originated from the ancient people's summary of life experience and five lines of gossip's theory, which was first seen in Zhouyi. We know that in our country, building a house is very particular about the orientation of the house. Most houses face south from the north main entrance, which is called the main house, while those facing east and west are called the wing rooms. The first room was occupied by the elders at home, which also reflected the traditional "filial piety" in China. From the perspective of geographical knowledge, the rotation of the earth leads to sunrise and sunset, and China is in the northern hemisphere of the earth, so the house facing south always gets more sunshine than other houses facing south, so people who live in this house facing south for a long time are healthier. Northern Yin, Southern Yang, Northern Yin, Southern Yang. Sitting facing south is not only for lighting, but also to avoid the north wind. In short, the principle of facing south is a correct understanding of natural phenomena, conforming to heaven, gaining the aura of mountains and rivers, accepting the brilliance of the sun and the moon, supporting the body, cultivating sentiment and getting ahead. But at that time, our ancestors didn't even know that the earth was round. Naturally, they can't explain why people who live in houses facing south are healthier, so they have the so-called "five lines of gossip". According to it, the east is wood, the south is fire, the west is gold and the north is water. And the emperor is the embodiment of the dragon, of course, he has to sit on the water to suppress the fire, so he is lucky! As the Ninth Five-Year Plan Emperor, it is natural that people all over the world should be loyal and filial to him, live in a house facing south and sit in a seat facing south. Zhouyi Shuo Gua said: "Those who leave are also clear, all things are in harmony, and the southern hexagrams are also." It means that in gossip, deviation from divination symbolizes light. When the sun is in the right place, it shines in the south, so that everything can be seen. This is divination on behalf of the south. Therefore, the emperor took the law and deviated from the divination, sitting in the north, facing the minister in the south, listening to the affairs of the world, symbolizing the rule of the world. Therefore, Zhouyi Shuo Gua said: "The saints listen to the world from the south, rule the world from the Ming Dynasty, and cover all this." Ancient kings sat facing south after they ascended the throne, which was called "Southern King" or "Southern Emperor". Contrary to the position of "South", "North" was inferior in ancient times. This song must be explained from the meaning of "North" first. The original meaning of "North" is "back" or "opposite". The word "North" in Oracle Bone Inscriptions means two people are back to back. Therefore, Xu Shen in the Eastern Han Dynasty explained in Shuo Wen Jie Zi: "North is good. The two turned back. " In ancient times, when two armies were at war, the one who fled after defeat always turned his back on the enemy, so the word "North" added the meaning of "failure". "Zuo Zhuan mourning for the public for two years": "The eldest son saved it, and Zheng Shibei also." "North" here means "defeat" or "run away after defeat". Therefore, in ancient Chinese, when it comes to defeat, the winner is often described as "chasing the North". For example, Biography of Emperor Gaozu in Historical Records: "Qin Bingqiang often drives the north with victory." After Qin and Han Dynasties, "lose" became a commonly used disyllabic word. For example, "Historical Records of Xiang Yu": "I started my army and was eight years old. In more than 70 battles, the beaten person was defeated, and the beaten person took it and was unbeaten. " Later, "defeat" not only refers to military failure or defeat, but also refers to failure in various competitions. In ancient times, when monarchs saw their ministers, elders saw their children, and they all sat in the south, while courtiers or children stood in the south, that is, facing north. Therefore, "North" refers to the person as the subject, which is called "North as the subject". According to Records of Historical Records of Xiang Yu, Xiang Yu threatened Liu Bang to withdraw his troops by cooking his father. Liu Bang said, "Xiang Yu and I were both ordered to be brothers in the north. If I were Weng, I would like to cook and Weng, so I am lucky to have a piece of it. " It means: "Xiang Yu and I are both facing the north and Chu Huaiwang. We were brothers. My father is your father. Please give me a piece of cake. " Later, "North" also had the extended meaning of giving up, seeking surrender and seeking peace. Because humble young people face the north to visit their elders, worshipping people as teachers is also called "North". This point is proved by an example in the biography of Han Yu Ding Guo: "Ding Guo is to welcome the teacher to learn the Spring and Autumn Annals, hold the scriptures, and prepare for the northern disciples." Sit facing south and conform to the heaven. In ancient times, the south was regarded as supreme, while the north symbolized failure and submission. The king reigns in the world, the ninth five-year plan. The fifth soil behavior is yellow, and the soil lives in the center, symbolizing the unity of the country. (The above contents were compiled by ABO Shen Xing-Lekui according to relevant literature, history and network materials. ) More historical and cultural blog posts: Interpret the meaning of the corresponding table of "Love the public, fear the sky and be cautious about people": Explore the origin and cultural connotation of mahjong. Who is the most influential emperor in China and the first person to open a "red light district" in China? Talking about the history of smoking and the spread of tobacco culture in China. Why do China people advocate red and yellow? Why did the ancients advocate the number "nine": How did ancient women's foot-binding become a symbol of "government"? The story about the mystery of Diusim's identity, how the Golden House hides the Jiao, became a symbol of the mistress, a cultural anecdote: the legend about the origin of "hard shoes" had the word "miss" as early as the Song Dynasty, a cultural anecdote about a dusty woman: who was the first to be jealous of the origin of "being shut out"? Secret: Is the "fifth most beautiful woman in history" from China? Secret: The princess born at the age of 65 of Emperor Qianlong counted the emperors who liked to make love and pursue women, and counted the funny and bizarre ways of death of Emperor China.