The locust tree comes when summer comes

Speaking of the locust tree, people will first think of its tall umbrella-like tree shape. In the north, there are dense shades created by locust trees everywhere in summer, thanks to their tall bodies and dense branches and leaves. The common locust tree usually has a thick trunk in the lower part, and many thicker branches grow in the upper part, and the branches are densely covered with slender branches. The oval leaves of the locust tree are regularly and densely arranged on both sides of the branches. , forming a huge canopy like an umbrella. Because the leaves of the locust tree are dark green, the crown of the locust tree looks like a dense dark green cloud from a distance, providing a place for people to enjoy the shade. Just as Fan Qin, a poet in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, said in his poem "Sophora Tree": "The beautiful trees spit out green leaves and are lined up at the edge of the double palace. The ripples are blown by the wind, and the soft colors are various.". Giving people shelter is the first benefit that locust trees bring to people.

Some people say that if the word Sophora japonica is split into two parts, it means "wood" and "ghost", so the Sophora japonica tree should also be called "Ghost tree". In fact, this is just a misinterpretation of the word-reading business. "Shuowen" says: "Sophora japonica, wood, Congmu, the sound of ghosts." According to the ancients, the word Sophora japonica means "ghost--when a person dies, the body is buried in the earth, and the soul returns to the ancestral temple." It means that the Sophora japonica tree has a soul. sacred tree. In the past, locust trees were usually planted at the entrance of the village, in front of the temple or at the door of the home, to wait for the leaves to fall back to their roots and the soul to return to their hometown. The locust tree used the sound of "huai" to express the wanderers' nostalgia for their hometown. No matter where they wandered, the wanderers in the distance always carried the memory of their hometown in their hearts. That big locust tree - the hometown of fertility and a place where dreams linger; in addition, the word "locust tree" also means that God or ancestors can provide shade to future generations, so there is often the term "locust tree shade", as well as folk proverbs. As the saying goes, "A locust tree in front of the door brings happiness naturally." This is one of the main reasons why Chinese people often like to plant locust trees in front of their temples or in front of their homes.

The Sophora japonica tree also has a high-end name called "Guo Sophora japonica", which shows that the Sophora japonica tree has the supreme status in China. The locust tree selflessly provides shade to people. As a sacred tree in China, it is a symbol of the hometown and the roots of the nation. It can be used by people all over the body. It also entrusts people with the good wishes of the descendants of the locust tree. It should be given the title of national tree. Well deserved. The Sophora japonica tree is also called "Chinese Sophora japonica", which means "missing the country" or "soul to China". It is favored by overseas travelers, so the Sophora japonica tree has become a symbol of national cohesion and a sacred tree in the hearts of overseas travelers.

"Zhou Li. Qiuguan" records that there were three locust trees planted outside the palace of the Zhou Dynasty. When the three princes met with the emperor, they stood under the locust tree. Therefore, locust trees are often associated with extremely high power in Chinese history. status connected. As the old saying goes: "The words of Sophora japonica are pregnant, and they are here to conceive people, and they want to conspire with them." Therefore, as a symbol of the top power in ancient times, Sophora japonica represents the position of the three princes, the prime minister and the auxiliary, such as the Sophora pod, which is a metaphor for the three princes or the position of the three princes. It also generally refers to the ministers in power; Huai Wei refers to the position of the Three Dukes; Huai Qing refers to the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, etc. Therefore, Hong Hao of the Song Dynasty said in his poem "Ode to Sophora japonica" that "Three Sophora japonica trees are only allowed to have three male faces, and there are several famous halls."

In ancient times, the locust tree was also related to the imperial examination. Because the locust tree symbolizes the position of the three princes, it is expected to be promoted to an official position. The imperial examination is related to the fame and wealth of scholars, so that they can win the position of the three princes. , is the highest ideal of a scholar. Therefore, scholars often use the name Sophora japonica to refer to scientific examinations. The year of the examination is called Sophora japonica in autumn, the test month is called Sophora japonica, and the month of the examination is called Sophora japonica. Good hopes.

The Sophora japonica tree is one of the oldest native plants in China. To this day, ancient Sophora japonica trees from the Tang, Song, Ming, Qing and other dynasties still grow in various parts of the country, most of them coexisting with scenic spots and historic sites. The magical appearance and legend are one of the reasons why the locust tree has a high status in people's hearts. An ancient locust tree that is more than 300 years old grows by the Danhe Bridge in the Taihang Mountains. Miraculously, this ancient locust tree, which was planted in the Qing Dynasty, sprouted and survived after withering for more than ten years. It is regarded as a god by the locals. Tree. In Chenqiao Town, Fengqiu County, Henan, there is a stone locust tree with a circumference of 5 meters, which is still blooming today. According to legend, this ancient locust tree was the one where Zhao Kuangyin often tied his horse to when he launched the Chenqiaoyi Rebellion, so it was called "the locust tree tied to horses". In the Jin Temple in Taiyuan, Shanxi, there are ancient Zhou Bai and Sui Huai trees, which are still alive today and are one of the "Three Wonders of the Jin Temple". There is a beautiful scene in the Confucius Temple in Jianshui County, Yunnan Province, my country, where green pine trees embrace an ancient locust tree. The locals call it "Green Brother Embraces Sister". In Shandong, my country, there are more ancient locust trees. In the Meng Temple in Nanguan, Zouxian County, there are ancient Sophora japonica, Ginkgo biloba, pines and cypresses, etc., and there is a giant Sophora japonica outside the door, which was born among the ancient cypresses and is known as "cypress hugging Sophora japonica"; in the Doumu Palace in Mount Tai, there is "Wolong Sophora japonica" is a unique tree with its simple branches and thousands of wavy roots. In Konglin, there are also ancient Sophora japonica trees with strange postures. Ancient and sacred Sophora japonica trees, together with the saints, Accept people's reverence and worship. There are also many ancient locust trees in Confucius temples across the country. If students taking the college entrance examination go to the Confucius temple to pay homage to Confucius, they might as well pay homage to the ancient locust trees in order to pass the "Sophora japonica" exam.

When talking about locust trees, we have to talk about the "Big Locust Tree" in Shanxi. This historical story is related to the fate of the Chinese nation. This is another indissoluble bond between the locust tree and the Chinese nation. The tradition of worshiping ancestors in Chinese civilization makes most Chinese people like to search for their roots. There is still a folk song circulating on the North China Plain: "Ask me where my ancestors are, the big locust tree in Hongdong, Shanxi. What is the name of my ancestor's former residence? The old stork's nest under the big locust tree." As a feat in the history of migration of the Chinese nation, during the large-scale immigration from Shanxi to the North China Plain in the early Ming Dynasty, most of the immigrants were concentrated under the ancient locust trees in Hongdong County, Shanxi, and then dispersed to other places, so the large locust trees in Shanxi were It has become a root in the hearts of these immigrants.

Because of this, the Root-seeking and Worshiping Ancestors Garden built by Shanxi Province at the large locust tree in Hongdong County has become a famous Ming Dynasty immigration site at home and abroad, and a holy place for hundreds of millions of immigrant descendants to find their roots and worship their ancestors. The artist Yu Yafei once wrote a poem praising Shanxi The big locust tree in Hongtong County says: "The huge locust tree rises from the ground and rushes to the green Han Dynasty, with dense branches connected by the same vein; even if the tree is thousands of feet high, the fallen leaves will eventually return to their roots." This fully expresses the belief that the descendants of the Yan and Huang Dynasties care about their homeland.

The ancient locust tree, its tall stature, its sacred and lofty status in people's minds, and its close connection with the Chinese nation. The Chinese not only regard it as a national tree, but also as a national tree. Localities and cities have designated the locust tree as a provincial or municipal tree, such as Beijing and Shanxi Province, as well as Xi'an, Lanzhou, Taiyuan, Dalian, Tangshan, Luoyang, Tai'an, Huaibei and other cities. It can be seen that the powerful influence of the locust tree on Chinese culture will continue.