Weekends, air conditioners (空调), takeouts… are all common things for modern people. Have you ever wondered if ancient people enjoyed the same lifestyles? Let's take a look.
No weekendsIn ancient China, there were no weekends because people did not use a weekly calendar. But they could still relax after work. During the Han Dynasty, officers took one day off every five days. During the Tang Dynasty, officers worked for ten days and rested for one day. There were also many public holidays in ancient times, such as Spring Festival, winter solstice and Mid-Autumn Festival. People like farmers and businessmen usually worked most of the year, but even the most hard-working people would take a few days off during Spring Festival. |
Smart ways of staying coolIn ancient times, though people didn't have air conditioners, they had their own ways to get through the hot summer. People collected ice blocks in winter and stored them in an icehouse. When summer came, people could take the ice blocks home and use them to make their rooms cooler. There was a kind of pillow (枕头) made of porcelain (瓷器) that felt pleasantly cool. Ancient people also made bamboo into bed mats (垫子) to sleep on. They're still used today. |
Takeouts not a new thingThere was takeout as far back as the Song Dynasty. In the famous Song Dynasty painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival (《清明上河图》), a takeout worker can be seen with food in hand. People at the time even had special meal boxes for takeout dishes. They also used warming plates made of two layers (层) of porcelain. Hot water could be put between them to keep dishes warm. |
