Instinctive characteristics Beard is a physiological instinct. Scientific research shows that after men enter puberty, the human body secretes androgen 4- 12 mg every day. These hormones stimulate hair follicles and make hair dark and thick. Beard is a typical example. The average adult has about 25,000 beards. At the age of 30, the beard was black and hard, reaching its peak, and then it declined year by year. Due to the rich distribution of blood vessels near the lips, the beard can grow 0.4 mm a day, which is twice the daily growth of hair.
Generally speaking, the color of beard can be divided into black, red, yellow and white. Pigment cells determine the color of the beard. Black beard is the result of the interaction of trace elements such as copper, cobalt and iron. The red beard is influenced by molybdenum and the yellow beard is influenced by titanium. Without these elements, a white beard will grow. It can be seen that long beard is the instinct of human body and the physiological performance of men in adulthood.
Aesthetic Preference The concern for beards in ancient times was largely driven by aesthetics. There is a sentence in the poem "Shang Mo Sang" written by Han Yuefu: "It is quite necessary for a man to be white and grow a beard." Rove, a young woman, added points to her husband's face value by "growing a beard". In the first batch of Qin terracotta warriors and horses, the terracotta warriors and horses have all kinds of beards, such as whiskers, whiskers, horns and drooping moustaches, which are very human.
In ancient times, having a beautiful beard would arouse everyone's envy and even jealousy. In Wei Family's Spring and Autumn Annals, Cao Cao's appearance is "short and strong", while in Wei Shu, Cui Yan is described as "the voice of Gao Yang, with clear eyes, must be four feet long and powerful." Cao Cao's "short appearance" is in sharp contrast with Cui Yan's "He must be four feet long". Cao Cao was deeply concerned about Cui Yan's beard, and in "Giving Death to Cui Yan's Order", he angrily denounced: "Although seeing the punishment, knowing the guest, if the door is like a city person, you must look directly at the guest, and if you are angry." Behind the bloody case caused by a good beard is inferiority. In ancient times when there was no beauty, filter or plastic surgery, beard was undoubtedly a yardstick to measure the beauty of masculinity.
Beard, a symbol of strength, is also the endorsement of men's strength. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the male kidney determines the beard and hair. There is a cloud in Su Wen: "Hair is blood, kidney is flower." "Lingshu" also said: "The blood-gas war is beautiful and long, the blood is short and short of breath, and the blood is short and unshaven." The relationship between kidney and beard and hair is clearly expounded here. Kidney stores essence, essence and blood, and blood produces hair. In the process of kidney development, kidney "hides" and nourishes "Hua", that is, kidney "hides". The two complement each other and embody one of the characteristics of male physical strength.
People's feelings for beards are often love me, love my dog. Huang Pu, a scholar in the Ming Dynasty, said in Excerpts of Leisure in the Past and Present: "Being an official doesn't need good articles, just a long beard." "Beard-only theory" equates beards with personal abilities. This one-sided principle of employing people should obviously not be advocated.
Coincidentally, beards were also very popular in ancient Greece. Thick beards were regarded as the main characteristics of masculinity and were highly respected by all walks of life. The statues in ancient Greece retained this fashion, and its grand occasion can be seen. No matter at home or abroad, beard, as a manifestation of strength, was recognized and affirmed by the society at that time, which promoted the longevity of beard.
The representative of power In fact, the beard symbolizes the supreme imperial power. Zhou Lingwang, the monarch of the 1 1 generation in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, was a bearded man. "Zuo Zhuan" records: "As for the king of spirits, he was born with a scorpion (sound Zρ). The king is very sacred and has no evil for the princes. " Zhou Lingwang was born with needs and is good at governing the country. Later generations nicknamed him the "King of Elders". In Lun Heng, a thinker in the Eastern Han Dynasty, when talking about Liu Bang, the Emperor Gaozu, he said, "Gaozu is handsome, with 72 spots on his left." Here, the beard is regarded as the standard of the emperor's appearance, and it is mainly described.
Ancient Egyptian pharaohs had the privilege of growing beards. If Pharaoh doesn't have enough beards, he will be suspected of incompetence. So Lao Wang often sticks fake beards. Female pharaohs like Hatshepsut also wore fake beards to decorate their faces to declare the legitimacy of their rule. With the emperor's contribution to beard, the influence of beard growth was further deepened.
Maintaining dignity Beard and dignity are inextricably linked. "The Book of Filial Piety" emphasizes: "Parents dare not damage the body and skin. Filial piety begins. " In other words, in ancient times, when filial piety was emphasized, keeping beard and hair was the most basic filial piety. Supported by ethical classics, it provides aboveboard reasons for men to grow beards.
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, there was a kind of "punishment forbearance" for shaving hair, which was lighter than the "punishment" for shaving hair. Shuo Wen Jie Zi pointed out: "Tolerance is great, then innocence." Ying Shao, a scholar in the Eastern Han Dynasty, also thought: "A misdemeanor should not be too embarrassing, so it is called embarrassing." Shaving off the beard as a punishment measure highlights the noble status of the beard.
In "The Story of Southern History Returning to Chu", Liu Chuyu, Princess of Yang Shan, said to Chu Yuan, the founding father of Southern Qi, "If you want to be as tall as a halberd, why don't you have the intention of being a husband?" The "beard" used here is equal to the dignity of a man. In order to refuse to perform for the Japanese, Mei Lanfang, a master of Peking Opera, grew a beard, showing his patriotic feelings of "being in danger, being unable to seize his will". Beard is endowed with dignity, and its spiritual value is more valuable.
Don't underestimate the beard in cultural accumulation, it contains rich cultural details. In the early Tang Dynasty, Li Ji, a famous soldier, suddenly became ill, so Hu Hui was required as a medicine guide. Hearing this, Emperor Taizong cut off his beard and medicine. After Li Ji recovered, he kowtowed to Emperor Taizong. Emperor Taizong said, "I care about my country. Thank you for not bothering me! " The profound friendship between the two people has been passed down through the ages as a beautiful talk
On one occasion, Kou Zhun, a famous figure in the Northern Song Dynasty, accidentally stained the soup on his beard while eating, and Ding Wei, a counselor of the Song Dynasty, hurried forward to wipe it. Kou Zhun was disgusted with Ding Wei's behavior in the Song Dynasty and scolded: "When you participate in politics, is it because the minister of the country brushed his beard?" Ding Wei's words made the Song Dynasty feel ashamed, leaving behind the allusion of "Liu Xu".
Wang Anshi, one of the "Eight Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties", "He still doesn't wash clothes or face." One day, when Wang Anshi and Wang Jue were discussing this matter in court, lice climbed on his beard. When Zongshen saw this scene, he smiled and said nothing. After leaving North Korea, Wang Anshi asked Wang Jue "Why are you laughing?" Wang Jue told him the truth. Wang Anshi hurriedly asked his entourage to stroke away the lice. Wang Jue quickly stopped him and said, "I have visited him many times, but I can't kill him, so I'd better let him go." Bearded lice give a different interpretation to "Bian Xianggong". Beard adds a unique style to traditional culture.
Stepping into modernization, the ruler changed his beard into a smile in order to win the people's favor. With the popularization of scientific knowledge, people realize that growing a beard is not good for their health, and it is difficult to find a "beard brother" in the crowd. The long beard reflects the change of people's concept, sealed in the past and looking forward to the future.