Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 72, Section 71: Astronomy and Calendar
Ji Heng had a different perspective on the women in the imperial harem.

Most of them were noble ladies carefully raised by their families, and they were born with the idea of ​​"doing things for the family's sake". Therefore, even if they were noble ladies from the Qin state, he dared not trust them too easily.

Once they gain power, they will be like the Queen of Chu, still longing for their homeland.

If a woman from a remote mountain village is destitute and has little knowledge or experience, she is likely to be alone.

Such a person, upon entering the Xianyang Palace, would find it extremely difficult even to maintain his own integrity, let alone educate his children.
Qin Qing is doing well now, and I wish her to do even better. Only when she is free from worries can she wholeheartedly dedicate herself to my Great Qin.

But the successor...

He casually instructed, "Select beauties as soon as possible."

Zhou Ju quickly bowed and said nothing more.

……

Qin Shi was unaware that she had already been assessed. It was only after returning to Lan Chi and bathing and changing that she suddenly thought, "Isn't October the New Year?"

The woman was somewhat surprised: "The first day of the tenth month is the New Year."

The Zhuanxu calendar has always been in this way, calculated since the time of Duke Xian, and the Qin Dynasty has been using it for a hundred years now.

Knowing that Qin Shi had read the "Great Qin Code," Chi Nu reminded him, "Previously, the Zhuanxu Calendar was promulgated in our Qin state, so it is normal that the Qin ruler was unaware of it. I have heard that Your Majesty now intends to promulgate it throughout the entire country."

The importance of the calendar to a nation is unimaginable to people of later generations. Back then, everyone could tell what holiday and solar term it was just by looking at their mobile phone.

If we go back several decades, even the poorest farmers would try to collect an old almanac.

Because the calendar not only represents the measurement of time, but also guides the most important agricultural seasons.

Farmers relied on the weather for their livelihood. Modern technology has helped to bridge this gap, but in the most primitive times of productivity, even a one-day difference in the farming season could affect the harvest.

Therefore, the King of Qin's desire to promulgate the Zhuanxu calendar throughout the country was essentially the same as the "standardization of writing and the standardization of cart tracks."

Although these impacts will have a profound effect on the lives of ordinary people, in today's world, these impacts all share the same fundamental purpose—

That is, to uphold his supreme unity.

Qin Shi frowned.

Although the Zhuanxu calendar is relatively accurate today, it does not include the twenty-four solar terms, so there are still errors in its guidance on agricultural timing.

For those in positions of power, the difference is not significant, but for ordinary people at the bottom of society, even a single day's mistake can be incredibly difficult.

She simply didn't understand calendar calculations, and after thinking about it for a while, she decided to keep it simple and straightforward—

Try looking for the Taichu calendar in the available materials. If not, the more accurate Gregorian calendar, which is commonly used today, will also work.

only……

"What's troubling you, Qin Jun?" Yi Ming asked as he massaged her shoulders.

Qin Shi thought for a moment and said, "I want to do something that, if successful, will benefit all the poor people in the world."

"But this matter might anger the king, make him very angry, even..."

They might even lose their lives.

Wu Zi was sprinkling fragrant dew on her, and upon hearing this, she was somewhat puzzled: "The King trusts Qin Jun so much that he can enter and leave even a forbidden place like the Ironworks with just a word from Qin Jun. How could he easily offend the King?"

Qin Shi shook his head with a wry smile: This is different.

The former is a favor bestowed casually.

The latter, if not handled carefully, could shake the very foundation of the nation.

After all, while the term "calendar" sounds simple, its promulgation was actually the exclusive right of the monarch. The Book of Documents states: Emperor Yao "commanded Xihe to respectfully observe the heavens, to study the movements of the sun, moon, and stars, and to respectfully instruct the people on the seasons."

Even a sage like Emperor Yao had to follow the will of Heaven to promulgate the calendar, which precisely proves the divine right of kings.

This is a right bestowed upon the monarch by Heaven, and the calendar should also be formulated and promulgated by the ruler.

Anyone who attempts to usurp the throne will be seen as trying to divide the monarch's power.

Qin Shi fell into worry at night, until Chi Nu came and asked an even more fatal question: "Is the King of Qin troubled about what gift he will send to the King for the New Year?"

Qin Shi was instantly jolted awake!
Yes! A gift!
With today's productivity, there are many things that simply cannot be prepared in advance.

At the beginning of this year, the Qin state had just conquered the six other states and completed the unification of China, making it an unprecedentedly important new year!
If she performs poorly or disappoints the king...

He immediately perked up: "Let me think about it carefully."

But before she could even organize her thoughts, Fu Cai asked an even more fatal question:
"When does Lord Qin's period begin? This servant has prepared a menstrual belt, but I wonder if Lord Qin prefers to use animal hide or wood ash?"

Animal hide? Wood ash?!
What an obscure and terrifying statement!

This pain is far more severe than the previous entanglement with the calendar!

Because she could always find a way to bring up the calendar; if it didn't work out today, she'd do it tomorrow; if it didn't work out this year, she'd do it next year.

But the woman's period comes every month.

But with the current level of productivity and agricultural crops, she couldn't even make a single pack of sanitary napkins!
As for his luggage, he didn't bring any at all—after all, a brain cancer patient who has already stepped into the gates of death cannot possibly maintain such healthy signs, right?
Cotton! Cotton!
It's still a long way from the spread of cotton!
Although there are rumors that it was introduced during the Qin and Han dynasties, but it was not widely used... but these are just rumors after all.

Even closer varieties, such as the short-fibered, absorbent but coarse Geberon, would not be introduced for at least another five hundred years.

The "animal hide" and "wood ash" that Fu Cai asked about were known in Qin Shi's time. Animal hide was made by sewing silk cloth onto animal hides and layering them, or by filling them with wood ash.

The simple wood ash menstrual belt was made by sewing a cloth bag and stuffing it with the contents.

Given the refined lifestyle of aristocratic women today, the wood ash undergoes multiple layers of fine sieving and even sewing, and is frequently replaced. It is burned immediately upon use, thus ensuring its sterilization and safety.

However, in terms of convenience, it's completely lacking.

In ancient times, women would stay home and not go out during their menstrual periods, as the continuous bleeding restricted their movement. But now, she has countless things to do every day, yet…

Qin Shi didn't even dare to imagine the horrific scene of lying there, bleeding profusely with the slightest movement! He might even have to lie there for several days!
As for which day of menstruation...

Qin Shi looked at Fu Cai helplessly: "I don't know either..."

Fu Cai's expression froze for a moment, then she sighed, "Qin Jun is truly..."

But she dared not say anything more, and could only grit her teeth and say, "...You truly prioritize national affairs!"

Then he asked, "Do we need to use animal hides?"

"No need, no need." Qin Shi quickly shook his head: "Wood ash, wood ash is fine."

She put on a mask of pain, and at that moment, she tried to find a bittersweet humor in her thoughts:

Thankfully, I no longer have to worry about menstrual cramps.

After all, with her robust physique, she really didn't seem like someone who would be troubled by minor illnesses and pains.

I'm here! I'm late.

[Then Emperor Yao commanded Xi and He to respectfully follow the will of Heaven, observe and calculate the movements of the sun, moon, and stars, and establish a calendar to impart the seasons and solar terms to the people. (From the *Shangshu*, Yao Dian section.)]

Ancient calendars were truly extremely important, so important that we hardly realize their significance to monarchs.

If someone were to promulgate a new calendar at this time, it would be equivalent to someone proposing a heliocentric theory—whether it is correct or not is not important, but it would certainly shake the rule!
Hey! Menstruation is an unavoidable topic for women!