中国古代的“洗象”仪式：大象洗澡带来好运

Zhōngguó gǔdài de “xǐ xiàng” yíshì: dàxiàng xǐzǎo dàilái hǎoyùn

In ancient China, people believed that elephants could bring good luck. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there was a special ritual called "elephant washing." Every summer, the emperor's elephants were taken to a river to take a bath. The Chinese word for "washing elephants" sounds like another word that means "good fortune." This made the ritual a symbol of happiness and peace.

拼音 Pinyin 开关

翻译 Translation 开关

Zài Zhōngguó gǔdài, dàxiàng shì yì zhǒng jíxiáng de dòngwù. Rénmen rènwéi, dàxiàng kěyǐ dàilái hǎoyùn. Zài Míng Qīng shíqī, huángdì yǎng le hěn duō dàxiàng. Měinián xiàtiān zuì rè de shíhou, huángdì huì ràng rén dài dàxiàng qù hébiān xǐzǎo. Zhège huódòng jiào “xǐ xiàng”.

在中国古代，大象是一种吉祥的动物。人们认为，大象可以带来好运。在明清时期，皇帝养了很多大象。每年夏天最热的时候，皇帝会让人带大象去河边洗澡。这个活动叫“洗象”。

In ancient China, the elephant was an auspicious animal. People believed that elephants could bring good luck. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the emperor kept many elephants. Every summer, when it was hottest, the emperor would have people take the elephants to the river to bathe. This activity was called “washing elephants.”

Xǐ xiàng de shíhou, rénmen qiāo gǔ, chuī hào, dàizhe dàxiàng zǒu dào hébiān. Dàxiàng zǒu jìn shuǐ lǐ, yòng chángcháng de bízi xī shuǐ, zài pēn chūlái. Shuǐhuā hěn gāo, hěn hǎokàn. Dàxiàng hái huì hùxiāng pēn shuǐ, hǎoxiàng zài wán yóuxì. Hé liǎng'àn zhàn mǎn le rén, dàjiā dōu lái kàn dàxiàng xǐzǎo.

洗象的时候，人们敲鼓、吹号，带着大象走到河边。大象走进水里，用长长的鼻子吸水，再喷出来。水花很高，很好看。大象还会互相喷水，好像在玩游戏。河两岸站满了人，大家都来看大象洗澡。

When washing the elephants, people beat drums and blew horns, leading the elephants to the riverside. The elephants walked into the water, used their long trunks to suck up water, and then sprayed it out. The water splashes were very high and beautiful. The elephants also sprayed water at each other, as if playing a game. Both banks of the river were full of people; everyone came to watch the elephants bathe.