Why is the weasel called Huang Daxian? An analysis of the origin of the name
The weasel is also known as yellow wolf, yellow skin, Huang Daxian, and so on. It has a body length of 28-40 cm, a tail length of 12-25 cm, and a weight of 210-1200 g. It is a small carnivorous animal of the genus Mustela in the family Mustelidae. In folk legends, the weasel is highly spiritual and is respectfully called Huang Daxian. Ordinary people do not dare provoke it and stay away when they see it. Now let us take a look at why the weasel is called Huang Daxian!
Is the weasel harmful to humans?
The weasel is basically harmless to humans. The weasel lives in plains, swamps, river valleys, villages, cities, mountainous areas, and other zones, mainly feeding on rodents and occasionally eating other small mammals. A folk proverb says, “When the weasel pays New Year's respects to the chicken——it has no good intentions”, but in fact the yellow weasel rarely feeds on chickens. The weasel is a natural enemy of mice. According to surveys, each yellow weasel can prey on 6-7 mice in one night, and one weasel can eat 1500-3200 mice in a year.
Why can't the weasel be killed?
From a scientific perspective, the little yellow one is a protected animal and is good at catching mice, so it cannot be killed. From the perspective of folk legends, it is said that the little yellow one is highly spiritual. In the Northeast there are many such legends, and ordinary people really do not dare provoke these creatures. I have heard many stories about weasels bewitching people, and people do not dare touch them. There are especially many weasels in rural areas, and at night the miserable screams of chickens in farmhouses are often heard. As soon as one hears it, one knows that a weasel is stealing chickens. Although stealing chickens is hateful and detestable, in rural areas people generally do not dare casually provoke weasels. Legend says that if you beat them to death, misfortune will come. Weasels are very vengeful, and people usually call the weasel Huang Daxian. If Huang Daxian is beaten to death, it will take revenge even on the next generation.
Why is the weasel called Huang Daxian
The weasel is called Huang Xian by people, and among the folk it is called “Second Uncle Huang”. In old times, a statue of it was enshrined in the Temple of the Empress of Heaven. It was worshiped by people for two reasons. First, like the fox, it has a rather beautiful form and a cunning disposition, making people feel it is mysterious. Another important reason is the belief that it can influence people's mental world and is related to a mental disorder. This mental disorder is called “hysteria”, commonly known among the folk as “zhuangke”. People believe that once a weasel possesses a person, hysteria will occur, mostly in women or people with depression. When this illness flares up, the person cries and wails, both speaking and singing, telling mysterious matters or grievances in life. Some people even sing beautiful verses. When hysteria occurs, the patient does not recognize family members and close friends, and the tone of speech differs from when they are well. Some also say that under the patient's skin there are small rolling balls, and if they are pinned with a needle, the possessing weasel can be put to death. Generally, pricking the patient's philtrum with a needle can treat it. There is also a strange phenomenon: legend says that as long as a doctor, sorcerer, or person who has beaten a weasel coughs outside the door, the attack immediately stops and the person appears normal. Although this hysteria does not leave aftereffects, it is very difficult to cure completely and is prone to recurring. After the founding of New China, folk worship of Huang Xian gradually lost its transmission.