There is variation in the inheritance of Chinese festival culture, and there is development within the variation. The unification of inheritance and variation is a prominent feature of Chinese festivals. HuaYi Network has prepared content about the Dragon Boat Festival; let's take a look together.
The Significance of Tying Five-Colored Strings on the Dragon Boat Festival
The significance of tying five-colored strings during the Dragon Boat Festival is to drive away evil spirits and prevent epidemics.
Tying five-colored threads is an ancient Han Chinese traditional custom. The five-colored thread is both an auspicious item and an ornament, with the function of warding off evil spirits and carrying the beautiful meaning of blessing and good fortune. On the Dragon Boat Festival, which is the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the dragon is in the sky, and the yang energy is strong. All kinds of evils are kept away, and the Dragon Boat Festival is an auspicious day to ward off negative forces. This leads to a series of customs for repelling evil spirits, among which tying five-colored silk around the wrist is one of the customs for warding off evil spirits.
The five-colored silk originates from the ancient Chinese concept of the Five Elements. Ancient China revered the five colors, considering them as auspicious colors. Tying five-colored silk around the wrist was a very popular festival custom. This tradition had spread across various regions since the Han Dynasty. In "The Customs and Meanings" by Ying Shao of the Eastern Han Dynasty, it is recorded that tying the five-colored thread around the wrist can ward off illness and ghosts and prevent disease. In "Baopuzi" by Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there is also a record of hanging five-colored paper on the mountain to summon the five directional deities, probably symbolizing the protection of the five directional deities together.
Tying five-colored threads is an ancient Han Chinese traditional custom. The five-colored thread is both an auspicious item and an ornament, with the function of warding off evil spirits and carrying the beautiful meaning of blessing and good fortune. On the Dragon Boat Festival, which is the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the dragon is in the sky, and the yang energy is strong. All kinds of evils are kept away, and the Dragon Boat Festival is an auspicious day to ward off negative forces. This leads to a series of customs for repelling evil spirits, among which tying five-colored silk around the wrist is one of the customs for warding off evil spirits.
The five-colored silk originates from the ancient Chinese concept of the Five Elements. Ancient China revered the five colors, considering them as auspicious colors. Tying five-colored silk around the wrist was a very popular festival custom. This tradition had spread across various regions since the Han Dynasty. In "The Customs and Meanings" by Ying Shao of the Eastern Han Dynasty, it is recorded that tying the five-colored thread around the wrist can ward off illness and ghosts and prevent disease. In "Baopuzi" by Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there is also a record of hanging five-colored paper on the mountain to summon the five directional deities, probably symbolizing the protection of the five directional deities together.
Can the Five-Colored String Be Tied on the Feet During the Dragon Boat Festival?
The five-colored string can be tied on the feet during the Dragon Boat Festival.
There are no strict standards or particularities for wearing the five-colored string; it can be worn according to one's own preferences and habits. Whether it is worn on the neck, feet, or hands, on the left or right hand, or on the left or right foot, there is no difference.
On the morning of the Dragon Boat Festival, adults' first task after waking up is to tie the Dragon Boat string around the wrists, ankles, and neck of their sleeping children. When tying the string, the child must not speak. Some married men were also forced by their wives to wear the colored rope, and many men were afraid of being laughed at by others, so they secretly tied it around their ankles.
There are no strict standards or particularities for wearing the five-colored string; it can be worn according to one's own preferences and habits. Whether it is worn on the neck, feet, or hands, on the left or right hand, or on the left or right foot, there is no difference.
On the morning of the Dragon Boat Festival, adults' first task after waking up is to tie the Dragon Boat string around the wrists, ankles, and neck of their sleeping children. When tying the string, the child must not speak. Some married men were also forced by their wives to wear the colored rope, and many men were afraid of being laughed at by others, so they secretly tied it around their ankles.
