Coming to the StarCraft to Be a Kindergarten Teacher: Perfect Transformation

After listening to my story about the origin and significance of Spring Festival couplets, the live broadcast room instantly exploded, and netizens exclaimed:

"Wow, it turns out Spring Festival couplets have such profound meanings!"

"I never thought that the things left by our ancestors were so exquisite!"

"Oh my god, the Spring Festival couplets written by the anchor are so amazing! I don't recognize a single word!"

"Haha, I noticed that too, but I didn't dare say it out loud, otherwise you would definitely laugh at me for being uneducated."

……

Watching the endless stream of messages scrolling across the screen, I couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth. I was deeply moved by their enthusiasm and curiosity for Spring Festival couplets. So, I decided to fulfill their wish and read out my own couplets.

Actually, I don't know much about calligraphy and seal script myself. It wasn't until I started kindergarten at Blue Star that I began to be exposed to these traditional cultural elements. However, since everyone is so interested, I'm happy to share my work.

"The calligraphy in the host's hand is in official script. As a unique style in traditional Chinese calligraphy, official script is loved by people for its unique charm and style.

Compared to other scripts, official script boasts simpler strokes, giving it a distinct advantage when writing Spring Festival couplets. As a traditional holiday decoration, couplets often require a concise yet artistically crafted font to capture the festive atmosphere. Official script perfectly meets this need, with its simple, flowing strokes and neat, elegant character shapes, creating a fresh and natural feel.

Furthermore, the robust lines of official script create a calm and powerful visual impact. This characteristic allows official script Spring Festival couplets to convey a festive atmosphere while also conveying a sense of solemnity and elegance. When people see these couplets, they not only feel the joy of the festival but also appreciate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture.

Generally speaking, the spring couplets in official script, with their fresh, natural, and solid characteristics, bring people a sense of ease and joy. Whether they are hung on the door or posted on the wall, they can add a unique artistic atmosphere to the festival.

The horizontal scroll reads: "Happy New Year!" These four characters clearly and concisely express good wishes for the New Year, implying that the new year will be full of auspiciousness and good fortune.

The first couplet reads: "Firecrackers burst forth in all directions, welcoming the five blessings." This line depicts the lively scene during the Spring Festival, when people set off firecrackers to welcome the arrival of the five blessings. The five blessings typically refer to longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a good death, representing people's yearning and pursuit for a happy life.

Second line: A single plum blossom heralds the arrival of spring. In Chinese culture, the plum blossom symbolizes resilience and purity. Its bloom in the harsh winter months heralds the arrival of spring. The three springs refer to Mengchun, Zhongchun, and Jichun, encompassing the entire spring season. Through the image of the plum blossom, the second line conveys the impending arrival of spring, offering hope and vitality.

Compound characters that look like multiple characters are called "combined characters." They are: "招财进宝," "一帆风顺," and "金玉满堂." These compound characters are an art form in traditional Chinese culture, combining multiple characters to form a unique pattern or symbol, symbolizing auspicious wishes such as good fortune and prosperity.

Now let's put up the Spring Festival couplets! I carefully picked up the couplets and affixed them to the door with glue or tape, ensuring they were flat and secure. After affixing the couplets, I took out the door gods I'd purchased in advance. Door gods are traditional Chinese deities used to ward off evil and protect the family. I placed them on both sides of the door, letting them guard our home.

When I saw some netizens in the live broadcast room asking what this was, I immediately enthusiastically explained to them the origin of the door god.

Door gods, an integral part of traditional Chinese culture, carry people's hopes for guarding their homes, warding off evil, and welcoming good fortune. Their history is long and storied, dating back to ancient times when people worshipped nature and believed in ghosts and gods.

In that distant era, humans held a deep reverence for nature. Doors, as crucial boundaries separating the inside and outside, were considered the primary gateway for evil spirits to invade. Therefore, people desperately needed a powerful divine force to ward off these potential threats. The original "door gods" weren't the concrete figures we know today, but rather abstract natural spirits or totemic symbols.

Peach wood, known for its ability to ward off evil spirits, became one of the earliest symbols used by people as door gods. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, a giant peach tree grew on Mount Dushuo in the East China Sea, its branches extending to form a "Ghost Gate." The deities Shentu and Yulei were stationed there, tasked with capturing evil spirits and feeding them to tigers. This custom of using peach wood to exorcise evil spirits gradually spread and became the origin of door god beliefs.

Besides peach wood, images such as tigers and mythical chickens were also considered symbols of door gods with the power to ward off evil. The tiger, king of beasts, was believed to be powerful enough to deter evil spirits; while the mythical chicken, with its ability to announce the dawn, was endowed with the symbolism of dispelling darkness and welcoming light. These natural spirits and totemic symbols, though simple, embody people's original understanding and expectations of door gods.

Shentu and Yulei, two gods who hold an important position in traditional Chinese culture, are considered to be the earliest personified door gods.

From the Warring States Period to the Han Dynasty, the imagery of door gods gradually evolved from abstract symbols to concrete figures. Shentu and Yulei stand out as prominent representatives of this evolution. Wang Chong, a scholar during the Eastern Han Dynasty, noted in his work "Lunheng" that people at the time would carve images of Shentu and Yulei from peach wood or draw their portraits and post them on their doors to ward off evil spirits and protect their families.

The legend of Shentu and Yulei is widely circulated among the people, and their image is deeply rooted in their hearts. According to legend, these two deities reside on Mount Dushuo in the East China Sea. On the mountain, a giant peach tree stands guarded by two deities, Shentu and Yulei. Whenever evil spirits attempt to enter the human world, Shentu and Yulei capture them and feed them to tigers. Consequently, people believe that Shentu and Yulei possess powerful exorcist powers, protecting families from the effects of evil spirits.

However, as time went on, military general door gods began to rise. After the Tang Dynasty, due to the increasing importance of military generals in society, people began to enshrine some famous generals as door gods. Among them, Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong are among the most famous military general door gods.

According to Journey to the West, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, was frequently haunted by ghosts after the Xuanwu Gate Incident. To protect the emperor, Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong volunteered to stand guard on either side of the palace gates. Sure enough, the ghosts dared not approach again. Since then, the images of Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong have become increasingly well-known and widely worshipped as door gods.

The rise of military door gods not only reflects society's reverence for military commanders, but also reflects people's desire for safety and protection. Whether it's Shentu, Yulei, Qin Qiong, or Yuchi Gong, these door gods embody people's yearning for a better life and their resistance to evil.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the belief in door gods spread like a torrent, sweeping across every corner of society and taking root in people's hearts, becoming an indispensable part of traditional Chinese culture. During this period, the images and functions of door gods became more diverse than ever before, like a hundred flowers blooming in full bloom.

There are many types of door gods, with exorcism gods being the most common. They are often depicted with ferocious faces and wielding weapons, meant to ward off evil. Blessing gods have kind and gentle faces, symbolizing good fortune and blessings for the family. Religious gods are closely tied to various religious beliefs, such as the Buddhist Skanda Bodhisattva and the Taoist Zhong Kui. Military gods are based on famous historical generals, such as Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong. Their mighty and majestic figures symbolize protection and strength. Civilian gods are portrayed as scholars and men of letters, such as Bao Zheng and Wen Tianxiang, representing wisdom and justice.

The Spring Festival, China's most important traditional festival, is naturally marked by the presence of door gods. During this joyous and auspicious time, people place carefully selected door gods on their doorsteps to pray for family peace and a smooth life. Door gods are not only decorative but also a source of hope, carrying people's yearning and hope for a better life.

The qualities represented by door gods, such as bravery, loyalty, and justice, embody the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation. These qualities have been passed down through the ages, inspiring generations of Chinese people to forge ahead courageously and uphold justice.

The origin and development of door gods vividly portrays the ancient Chinese people's worship of nature and the gods. They not only reflect people's awe and exploration of the unknown world, but also demonstrate the deep integration of historical figures and folk beliefs. Door gods, this unique cultural symbol, have become an important part of Chinese traditional culture, bearing witness to the vicissitudes of the Chinese nation and its cultural heritage.