Legend two legend, according to legend, in ancient China, there is a kind of monster called "year", head long antennae, ferocious and unusual. It lived deep under the sea for many years, and only climbed ashore on New Year's Eve to devour livestock and hurt people. Therefore, every New Year's Eve, the people of villages and hamlets, old and young, fled to the mountains to avoid the harm of the "year" beast. New Year's Eve this year, the people of Peach Blossom Village is helping the old and young to take refuge in the mountains, from outside the village came to a begging old man, see his hand on crutches, arm with a bag, silver beard flowing, as if the eyes of the stars. Folks have sealed the windows and locked the door, some packing, some cattle and sheep, everywhere people shouting and horse neighing, a scene of panic in a hurry. At this time, who has the heart to care for the old man begging. Only the east end of the village, an old woman gave the old man some food, and advised him to quickly go to the mountains to avoid the "New Year" beast, the old man stroked his beard and laughed: "Granny, if you let me stay at home for a night, I must be "New Year" beasts away. The old woman looked closely, see his hair, hale and hearty, extraordinary. But she still continue to persuade, begging the old man smiled but did not say. The old woman had no choice but to leave her home behind and take refuge in the mountains. In the middle of the night, the "New Year" beast broke into the village. It found that the atmosphere in the village is different from previous years: the old woman's house at the east end of the village, the door is plastered with red paper, and the house is lit up by candles. The beast shivered and gave a strange cry. Nian" stared angrily at the old lady's house for a moment, and then pounced on her with a wild cry. Near the door, the courtyard suddenly came "bang bang pop" sound, "year" shuddered, no longer dare to come forward. It turns out that Nian is afraid of the color red, fire and explosions. At this time, the door of the mother-in-law's house was wide open, only to see an old man wearing a red robe in the yard, laughing. Nian" was terrified and fled in a panic. The next day was the first day of the first lunar month, and the people who had taken refuge in the village were very surprised to see that the village was safe and sound. It was then that the old woman came to her senses and hurriedly told the townspeople about the old man's promise. Villagers flocked to the old lady's home, only to see the old lady's home with red paper on the door, a pile of unburned bamboo in the yard is still in the "snap" blast, several red candles inside the house is still glowing with the afterglow of ...... ecstatic townspeople for the celebration of the arrival of good luck, have to wear a new coat and a new hat to friends and relatives to say goodbye to the house. This incident soon spread in the surrounding villages, people know the way to drive away the "New Year" beast. Since then every year on New Year's Eve, every family stick red couplets, firecrackers; household candles brightly, to keep the night. Early in the morning on the first day, but also to go to friends and relatives to say hello. This custom has become more and more widespread, and has become the grandest traditional festival in Chinese folklore.
Legend three one-legged mountain ghost legend a long, long time ago, "the western mountains, there are people, its length of more than a foot, a foot, the nature of the people do not fear, the offender will make people hot and cold. To bamboo in the fire, the fire fluttering sound, and on the repentance far away". This is about the predecessor of firecrackers - firecrackers myth. Therefore, firecrackers are also called firecrackers in some places.
The legend of the four Li Tian ancestors of the Tang Dynasty, there is an emperor called Li Shimin, Li Shimin has a prime minister called Wei Zheng. It is said that Wei Zheng has a lot of power, "the day tube on earth, night jurisdiction of the netherworld". Once, a Dragon King of the Jing River, the head of the Eight Rivers, violated the rules of heaven and was sentenced to death. The Jade Emperor ordered Wei Zheng to carry out the execution. At that time, it was a hot summer night, Wei Zheng fell asleep, and suddenly his whole body was drenched in sweat, which turned out to be the result of the fact that he was beheading the sinful dragon who had violated the Heavenly Laws, and was sweating from exhaustion. At this time, Li Shimin used a fan to Wei Zheng even three fans. With this fan, the wind helped Wei Zheng and finally helped him to kill the sinful dragon. Then, the ghost of the sinful dragon blamed Li Shimin and often made windy crimes, which disturbed Li Shimin and gave him no peace at night. The court had to send generals Qin Shubao and Yuchigong to guard Li Shimin's bedchamber, and only then did he find peace. However, 365 nights a year, night after night to guard, really bitter Qin Shubao and Yuchigong. At the time of the difficulty, a man named Li Tian came up with a way: with a small bamboo tube filled with some nitrate and sulfur, ignite the explosion, the mountain called the valley, the ghosts and monsters of the evil all scared away. In this way, the ghosts and demons are scared away, but the firecrackers issued a loud, still make Li Shimin can not sleep well. Later, some people came up with a way to put the portraits of generals Qin Shubao and Yuchigong on the door of Li Shimin's bedchamber to suppress the ghosts and evil spirits. Therefore, Qin Shubao and Yuchigong later became the door god. In addition to guarding Li Shimin's chambers with firecrackers, Li Tian also used firecrackers to drive away miasma. Because of the frequent wars in the Tang Dynasty, epidemics were prevalent and the poor people suffered. Li Tian used this method, it really works. So, later on, firecrackers were widely used to ward off evil spirits and dispel miasma. Later generations in order to commemorate Li Tian, all honored him as the ancestor of the firecrackers. Every lunar April 18, Li Tian will be the first division, in the ancestor of the birthday, a big banquet, cannons, kowtowing and kneeling, a grand celebration. This custom, for thousands of years, from generation to generation, a pronounced inherited to the early liberation. 2010 Shangli International Fireworks Festival April 16-18 in the originator of the firecracker Li Li's hometown of Shangli. Theme to "scientific and technological fireworks, magical Shangli" as the theme, showing the modern technology in fireworks production and display technology. The realization of fireworks display by computer control, electronic, remote control ignition, so that modern fireworks, fireworks display more secure, the performance form is more colorful, colorful.
The legend of the five Sun hidden cliffs and alchemy platform in China at the end of the Sui and early Tang dynasties, out of a famous alchemist and medicine Sun Simiao. Sun Simiao talent superb, not only medical skill, and alchemy skill Qingzhan, many times refused to the imperial court to give the seal. According to legend, in order to concentrate on alchemy and medicine, Sun Simiao first lived in seclusion in the deep forests of the Taihang Mountains, and then traveled thousands of miles south to the mountains of eastern Hunan, finally settling down in Liuyang. Outside the east gate of Liuyang County, along the river, there is a small river that meets the Liuyang River, and in the woods of the mountain range, there is a cavern where, according to legend, Sun Simiao lived in seclusion. The descendants called this cavern Sun Yin Cliff in honor of this famous medicine man and alchemist. Sun Simiao in this cave in the hidden down, often to Liuyang County, 30 kilometers away from the moving side of the rich sulfur mine of the seven treasure mountain mining sulfur, the mining back to the sulfur, plus saltpeter and charcoal and other materials, loaded into the furnace, day and night refining. Day after day, year after year, Sun Simiao finally refined gunpowder, fireworks, firecrackers, the founder. People in order to remember Sun Simiao on fireworks, firecrackers, the great contribution to his alchemy of the place honored as alchemy of the Dan platform, wash medicine wells and springs were honored as wash medicine wells and wash medicine spring. To date, the wheel of history has flown more than a thousand years, but Sun Yin cliffs, alchemy platform, wash medicine wells, wash medicine spring is still well-preserved, as if recounting the ancient legend, really make people ancient thoughts fly.