The ancients' description of age groups

Overall perspective: childhood. In ancient times, children tied their hair into a pair of small horns, called total horns.

Hanging bun: childhood. Children under age don't wear hats, and their hair droops. Later, because "hanging bun" refers to childhood. Tao Yuanming's "Peach Blossom Garden" in Jin Dynasty: "Yellow hair hangs down and enjoys itself."

And logistics: female 15 years old. This kind of hairpin was used by ancient women to curl their hair. When female 15 years old, her head is raised, indicating that she has reached adulthood. The Book of Rites: "Women ... five tenths."

Cardamom: A girl of thirteen or fourteen. In the Tang Dynasty, Du Mu's "Farewell" poem said: "Flowers are more than thirteen, and beans end in early February." Later, because of "cardamom", I used to be a girl of thirteen or fourteen.

Broken melon: female 16 years old. Ancient literati took the word "melon" apart and made it into two characters, because they called a woman of 16 years old "the year of broken melon".

Weak crown: the man is 20 years old. In ancient times, when a man was 20 years old, he would hold an adult ceremony and put on a crown to show that he was an adult.

"Book of Rites Quli Shang" said: "Twenty is the weak crown." Zuo Si's poem "Ode to History" in the Western Jin Dynasty: "A weak crown makes a gentle person, and a group of books is brilliant."

Standing: 30. Confucius' The Analects of Confucius: "I am determined to learn five out of ten and stand at thirty." Later, he called the age of 30 "the year of standing".

There is no doubt: 40 years old. "The Analects of Confucius for Politics": "Forty without confusion." By the age of 40, the speaker has more social experience and can distinguish right from wrong when things happen and no longer doubt. Later, 40 years old was called "the year of no doubt".

Shi Qiang: 40. "Book of Rites Qu Lishang": "Forty strong and official." It is said that the man is 40 years old, has strong wisdom and strength, and can be an official.

Fate: 50 years old. "The Analects of Confucius for Politics": "You know your destiny at fifty." Later, 50 years old was called "the year of destiny".

Ai: 50 years old. "Book of Rites Qu Lishang": "Fifty is Ai." The hole is sparse: "As pale as Ai. Represents the age of white hair.

Flower: 60 years old. Named after 60 names arranged by heavenly stems and earthly branches. Once at the age of 60, it is called "flower".

Shun: 60. "The Analects of Confucius for Politics": "Sixty sounds good." Therefore, 60 years old is called "the year of hearing".

Zhai: 60 years old. "Book of Rites Qu Lishang": "Sixty years old, teaching."

Gu Xi: 70 years old. Du Fu's "Qujiang" poem: "Wine and debt together, life is seventy years old."

Elders: "Book of Rites Quli" says: "Eighty or ninety is the time to go." "The Book of Songs Qin Feng Car Neighbors": "The dead are gone." Mao Chuan: "I am old. Eighty years old. " After that, eighty or ninety years old were regarded as "octogenarians".

Period: 100 years old. "Book of Rites Qu Lishang": "A hundred years, easy." Period is expectation, and H is nourishment. In other words, when people live to be 100 years old, it is the life expectancy, so at this age, they should be well raised. Therefore, later generations regard "Yi" as a synonym for centenarians.