In ancient China, there were mostly one-story or two-story bungalows, and the foundation was not as solid as that of modern high-rise buildings. And rammed earth abutment is very afraid of water erosion.
Most ancient doorsills were made of stone and wood. A higher threshold can prevent sandstorms and floods to some extent. Invasion of insects, rats, etc.
The threshold is also a symbol of the ceremony between the host and the guest. The so-called entering the house reflects the host's attention to the guests.
When guests cross the threshold and enter the hall, they need to look down at the steps to prevent bumping, which is a respect for the host. There is a saying that "the threshold is broken, there is nothing inside and outside", which shows that the threshold is the boundary between family order and other etiquette.
Some geomantic sayings think that a door should have a threshold, which can not only make geomantic omen better, but also increase the respect of outsiders for this family. Not everyone can walk through this door, so it is sometimes even a symbol of status.
Generally, the tablets of gods and ancestors are placed in the main hall of the courtyard, so the threshold here is the highest, while the threshold of the wing is relatively low.
The threshold can only be crossed in one step, not stepped on. In ancient China, stepping on someone else's threshold was disrespectful to the owner of the house.
Later, the threshold was extended, which not only blocked the wealth but also blocked the life. Therefore, if a person is not satisfied, he will say "he has hit the threshold." There is a saying among the people that the year of birth is the threshold. It is said that there are many people in this year, so you should be extra careful in your life. The root red belt to ward off evil spirits is to cross this "threshold".
In the proverbs that have been passed down to this day, it is often heard that a certain family has a high threshold, which is nothing more than saying that the family is in good condition and decent.
To go to the temple, the male guest must take the left foot first, and the female guest must take the right foot first. Don't make mistakes. Male guests left their feet into the pure land of the west, while female guests are just the opposite, so we can't be careless. Of course, don't step on the threshold, and don't become an insurmountable threshold.
Now in our life, there are only security doors, but there are also metal thresholds. Parents must tell their children to cross the threshold and never step on it. As a carrier of educating people and respecting teachers, the threshold was once a rich symbol of China people's life. Although it is far away from us, leaving only a faint and vague mark, it is full of its unique scenery.