古人常说学富五车，五车到底能装多少书？
需要指出，这“车”是马车、牛车，而不是大卡车。这词儿是描述战国时代的名家施惠如何勤奋好学的。他每 次出个门，都要带上五车竹简在路上阅读。也不知道这一路颠簸的，他能不能看得进去，总之这范儿算是做足了。这五车竹简也没几本书，大概连精装版的《古文观 止》也装不完。照这么个算法，咱们随便一个人都是学富几十、上百车的。
古人通常多久洗一次澡？他们用什么来洗头呢？
古人比我们想像中讲卫生多了。早在先秦时期，古人便“三日一洗头，五日一沐浴”。到了汉代，还出现了 “休沐”，就是说官员们上了五天班之后，能专门休一天假来洗澡。现在的公务员哪有这待遇？更有人因为喜欢洗澡而著书立说，这就是南朝的梁简文帝萧纲和他的 《沐浴经》。古人洗头更勤，常常使用清水和天然清洁剂“无患子”来洗头。
古人没有卫生纸，那么上完厕所用什么擦屁股？
古人大概都练过“忍者神功”，在纸张还没有发明之前，古人大便完后用小木片、竹片来“刮擦”屁股，也不 怕刮出痔疮来。即便是纸张发明之后，因为中国有“敬惜字纸”的传统，而且纸张较为昂贵，用纸来擦屁股，是大不敬的奢侈行为，古人只好继续当“忍者”。直到 元代，蒙古人才不鸟你什么爱惜纸张呢，屁股自此得到了“温柔”的对待。
古人没有冰箱，那如何保存食物呢？
谁说古人没有冰箱？湖北省随县曾侯乙楚墓曾出土一件“铜冰鉴”，就是世界上发现最早的冰箱。早在春秋时 期，奴隶们就冬天凿冰储藏，供贵族夏季饮用。简单地说，古代的“冰箱”是一个盒子，里头放冰块，再将食物放在冰中间，以达到防腐保鲜的作用。不过，以前的 “冰箱”简陋且功能单一，不像现在，冰箱甚至可以成为惊悚片里杀人凶手的容器。
古人如何预测天气？
在商朝，运用眼睛耳朵等感官系统来观测天象，是很了不起的本事，在政府里混个高职完全不成问题。到了周 朝，人们已经学会从动物的行为来预测天气了。秦汉时期，古人完成了二十四气节的制定。之后，农历的问世，更是历代祖先智慧的结晶。古人预测天气，虽然没有 精密的仪器，但很多时候却比现在那些所谓的“天气预报员”靠谱多了。
古代女人是如何化妆的？
涂脂抹粉是女人从古至今从未 改 变的爱好。古代女人最常用的三样法宝是：黛粉、妆粉和胭脂。“黛”是一种黑色矿物，把它先磨成粉再和水，可以用来画眉。妆粉就是现在的粉饼。胭脂是古代的 口红，原料是一种叫“红蓝”的花朵，与妆粉调和后也可当腮红使用。现在琳琅满目的化妆品让女人们有了更多的选择，“假面”功力更胜古人几筹。
古人没有保险套和避孕套，如何避孕呢？
古代的皇帝如果不希望他的妃子怀孕，会命令太监把那女子倒挂起来，用藏红花来清洗下体。过去的青楼女子 也会服用一种含有麝香的“凉药”来避孕。不过，效果也不是百分之百的，韦小宝八成就是他妈避孕措施没做好才蹦出来的，甚至还有人喝剧毒水银。当然，多数古 人不会刻意避孕。
古代是如何处理垃圾的？
古人比现代人可要环保多了。随手乱扔垃圾这种不文明的事情，很少发生。早在8000年前，古人就会将垃 圾集中处理，利用天然的或挖掘而成的土坑来堆放垃圾。解决垃圾最快的方法是直接烧掉，烧不掉的就掩埋起来。古代垃圾场的遗迹里，大多数是碎裂的瓷器、漆 器。拼一拼，说不准能还原一件古董。所以，想发横财的，可以翻翻古人的垃圾。
古人喝水是生饮还是会煮开再喝呢？
只有现 代 人才会被这个问题困扰。古时候还没有环境污染，无论是河水、泉水、井水，甚至是雨水都可以直接饮用，不用担心拉肚子。只有天气寒冷时，古人才会把水烧开了 喝。虽然可以随时随地取水，但古人要提防水源受到污染，因为古代瘟疫的流行，大多跟饮用水有关。武侠片里的恶人，常使用在水里投毒这种下三滥的招，取人性 命于无影无形。
古时就有地图吗？那如何制作的呢？
传说大禹治水时，就有地图。中国现存最古老的地图，是3幅距今2000多年的汉代古地图。西晋的地理学 家斐秀创立的《制图六体》，使地图的编制有了更大的精确度。古代地图基本上是一步一个脚印量出来的，所以，制作地图的兄弟们，首先得是跟唐僧似的苦行者。 因为，想要制作一张全国地图，往往需要10多年，是个浩大而枯燥的工程。
古人写错字如何修改？
直接用毛笔涂掉是最简单的办法。王羲之和颜真卿，就是这样应付错别字的。所以，《王羲之兰亭序》和《颜 真卿祭侄稿》算是两位大书法家的“涂鸦之作”。最普遍的方法是：在错别字旁边（通常是右上方）用毛笔加点，保留原字继续写下去。还有一种方法是，把名为 “雌黄”的矿物涂在错别字上，有点类似现在的“涂改液”……信口雌黄就这么来的。
在没有杀虫剂的时代，古人如何扑杀害虫？
古代用于防治害虫的药物五花八门，植物性的包括嘉草、莽草等，动物性的包括蜃灰、鱼腥水等，矿物性的则有食盐、硫磺、石灰、砒霜等。使用的方法包括混入种 子收藏、伴同种子种植、浸水或煮汁喷洒、点燃熏烟、涂抹虫蛀孔等。早在春秋战国时期，政府甚至还得专门设官员管治虫害。每到害虫猖狂的时节，便会出现“全 民捕虫”的壮观景象。
古人上班时几点到几点？打卡吗？
别以为打卡上班是现代的变态发明。看看古人上班的记录，你会觉得现在算是人性化多了。古代衙门里的公务 员上班的时段为：春冬二季，清晨六点签到；夏秋二季，清晨五点半就得签到。如果谁敢无故旷工或迟到，就不是扣点钱那么简单的事情了，依天数和情节轻重，可 处以笞刑或徒刑。所以，上班迟到有可能遭受皮肉之苦，不好混啊。
古代学生有寒暑假或周末假吗？
现在的学生常常叫嚷假期太短，如果这种抱怨发生在古代，估计手掌心早被老师或家长打掉两层皮了。古代学 生没有专门的假期，除了新年、端午节等举国同庆的节日外，学生每天的任务就是寒窗苦读，考试前还得头悬梁锥刺股，或凿个壁偷点光，进行一下考试冲刺。古代 只有官员才能休假，所以，努力考取功名后，便可以名正言顺地放假了。
古代的婴儿会喝羊奶或牛奶吗？还是只喝母乳？
古代的婴儿如果可以喝羊奶或牛奶，就不会有这么多幼年夭折的惨况了。古人通常到了一定的年纪才能喝动物 奶。婴儿还是以含有人类抗体的母乳为主，因为那时候动物奶还没有现在的杀菌处理技术，婴儿对细菌没有抵抗力。若母亲没奶怎么办？只能“借乳”了，奶妈这一 职业由此诞生。没奶的穷人家，只能用米磨成适合吞咽的细浆来作替代品。
古人怎么取火？
最初，古人看到火山爆发或雷击起火，以为是什么神灵，会顶礼膜拜。后来，燧人氏看见啄木鸟与木摩擦生 烟，从中学会了钻木取火。西周时发明了“阳燧”取火，就是用凹面的铜镜，运用阳光聚焦的原理取火。直到人类懂得击石取火后，用火就很方便了。所以，打火石 是古人居家的必备品。不过，也要警惕放在小孩小猫够不着的地方，免得玩火自焚。
铁杵真能磨成绣花针吗？如果不行，那针是怎么做的？
在古代，凡属于金属类的东西都算贵重物品，如果典故属实，那位磨铁杵的阿婆，算得上有钱又有闲的人了。 不过，制作铁针的确需要很大的恒心和耐心。先要将烧红的铁抽成铁丝，再剪成一段段，将一头磨尖，另一头钻洞。制作用于针灸的针就更烦琐了，要先插入腊肉中 用油脂来填补坑洞，尖端还要磨得又尖又圆，才能避免针戳断血管。
以前没有卫生棉，那月经布是抛弃式 的，还是重复使用？
古代妇女身上最长的东西，除了头发、裹脚布，就数“月经布”了。月经布是一根长布条，用于“大姨妈”来 时紧紧包裹下体。但是，由于古代妇女参加体力劳动比较频繁，所以依然难免“见红”。此外，因为中国向来崇尚节俭，使用过的布条还是会经过清洗后重复使用。 现在的女人应该好好感谢卫生棉的发明者，它在一定程度上“解放了女人”。
半夜在街上喊天干物燥小心火烛的更夫，算公务员吗？
更夫在古代类似现在的社区巡守队和管理员，主要负责夜晚邻里间巡逻和报时的工作。由于夜间出行，他们 “撞鬼”的可能性比常人高，港台的僵尸片里头，更夫常莫名其妙地暴毙。话虽如此，但更夫好歹是个正经的职业，也算是公务员，因为古代军队较低阶的士兵，会 被安排当更夫，就像保镖和警察。可以肯定的是，他们的待遇没有现在的公务员好。
除了听听唱戏外，古人都怎么过生日的 ？
中国讲究尊老重贤，只有老年人，才能过大寿。新生婴儿满周岁时，会举行“抓周”。以后每年过生日，往往 是父母煮几个鸡蛋就糊弄过去了，这叫“小生日”。直到60岁才有资格贺“寿”，也就是过“大生日”。此时，可以大摆戏台，亲朋好友还会送上珍贵的礼物和美 好的祝福。所以，在古代，想要过个像样的生日，还得有长命的本事。
古人刷牙吗？
古人也是很注重口腔卫生的。咱们的祖先老早 就 用右手中指当牙刷用了。再后来，印度人发明的“杨枝牙刷”由僧人传入中国，又名“木齿”。使用方法非常简单：将杨枝一头咬软，蘸了药物刷牙，便令牙齿光 洁。更简单的方法是用“嚼”的，跟长颈鹿似的嚼嫩树枝，也可达到类似效果。现代人哪天“野外生存”时，忘记带牙刷，不妨回归一下古法。
古人近视了怎么办？
古时还没有什么环境污染问题，也没有电视、电脑的诱惑，所以近视的人非常少。通常近视的都是苦读的书 生，你想啊，老凿壁偷光、囊萤夜读，不近视才怪呢。古人以为看不清是因为精神不集中，所以，“定志丸”是最常用的药方，也有用穴道按摩和针灸来治疗眼睛 的。明朝时眼镜从西方传入中国，仗着眼镜，大家毁起眼睛来，更肆无忌惮了。
古人有金库或保险箱吗？他们是怎么藏钱的？
早在原始时代，为了保存辛苦捕猎来的食物，古人会挖洞将食物放入洞穴，再放块大石头挡住。后来，演变成 用兽皮包裹捆 绑贵重物品，这应该算是保险箱的雏形了。随着器皿和锁的发展，人们开始将钱放入不同材质的箱子和柜子中。然而，即便“保险箱”出现了，也难 免半路杀出群绿林大盗。钱庄由此应运而生，却也成为更专业的“窝藏赃款”的机构。
古代人装假牙吗？
早在汉代，张仲景就发明了汞合金填充龋洞法。宋朝还出现了镶假牙的专业医生。古代的假牙材质很多，除了 象牙、牛骨之外，还有坚硬的檀香。假牙除了能解决实际的用牙问题，还有装饰和卖弄的功用。“牙桥”，就是用软金铁线绑住牙齿，再绑入口内，没有咀嚼功能， 纯装饰使用。这让人想起八 九十年代的港片里，暴发户一张口，金牙闪倒一片。
古人抽烟吗？
烟草最早是在明朝万历年间从菲律宾的吕宋岛传入中国的，最初 在广东福建两省有少量的种植，但抽的人并不多。众所周知，烟草造成祸害，是从鸦片战争开始的。小小的鸦片，成为改写中国历史的导火线。清光绪年间，英国商人借通商之便，把纸烟带入大陆，刚开始免费送抽，等人上瘾之后开始贩售。
古代玉或宝石类的饰品，是用什么东西雕琢而成的？
黄金有价玉无价，古人老早就知道玉器宝石的珍贵。而“他山之石，可以攻玉”也表明古人对硬度早就有了认 识，知道利用更坚硬的矿物来研磨石器。雕琢玉器，古人往往是把硬度更高的石英、拓榴石、金刚石等矿物捣碎成沙砾状，就成了“解玉砂”。后来还出现了硬度最 高的“金刚砂”，也就是碎钻。这下再硬的宝石都可以任人“宰割”了。
古代人的闹钟只有公鸡吗？
如果那只当闹钟的公鸡被宰了，怎么办？古人当然不会吊死在一棵树上。除了漏壶和日咎外，古人还发明了香 钟。就是以特制的模子制成盘香，盘香粗细均匀，燃烧时间才能准确。再从燃烧后剩余的盘香上的刻度来推测时间。后来，古人对香钟进行了改良，在香火烧到固定 刻度时，上面挂的重物就会落下，撞击盘香下的金属器皿，达到闹钟的效果。
译文:
How did Chinese people live in ancient times?
The ancients often said,” If you own five carts of books, you must be knowledgeable and have read many books.” But how many books can the five carts carry?
It must be pointed out that the carts are carriages and oxcarts, not trucks. The sentence is used to describe how industrious Shihui was, a master in Warring States Period. He always took the five carts of Bamboo Slips for reading as he went out. No one knows that whether he can read comfortably in a bumpy road or not. But it was so impressible. There were not many books in the carts, even the whole hard-cover edition of Guwenguanzhi can’t be carried out. Therefore, nowadays, everyone can carry many books, not to mention dozens or hundreds of carts.
How many times did the ancients take a shower? What did they use for shampoo?
The ancients paid more attention hygiene than what we can imagine. In the Pre-Qin Period, the ancients liked to shampoo every three days and bath every five days. Until Han Dynasty, the officials could take a day off to bath after working 5 days. But it is impossible for a civil servant to be treated like that. Emperor Wendi in Nan Dynasty wrote a book——Bath bible ——, who liked to bath very much. The ancients likes to shampoo more often, with clean water and natural cleaning agent.
Without toilet paper, what did the ancients used for clearing up a messy situation to settle an impasse?
The ancients might have practiced as a ninjia. Before the invention of paper, the ancients used the spills instead of toilet paper. Although people had invented the paper, using toilet paper is such a luxury behavior, for Chinese people like to cherish paper and paper is very expensive. So, the ancient people still continued to be ninjias. Until Yuan Dynasty, Menggu People began to ues toilet paper, without thinking of cherishing paper.
Without refrigerators, how can the ancients keep food?
How did you know the ancients don’t have refrigerators? In the Sui County of Hubei province, people found a “Tongbing Jian” which is the earliest refrigerator in the world from the tomb of Chu Dynasty, Zeng Chuyi. As early as in Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the slaves broke the ice in winter, storing for the nobles to drink in summer. In a word, the refrigerator in old times was just a box, with ice block in it. They put the food in the middle of the box to keep well. But, the icebox’s function is single. And now, the refrigerator can even be used as a murder’s container in a thrilling film.
How can the ancients forecast the weather?
In Shang Dynasty, it was great that using the sense organs to predict astronomical phenomena, such as eyes, ears. It was not difficult to be a high officer in government. But in Zhou Dynasty, people could predict weather from the animals’ behavior. Until Qin and Han Dynasties, the ancients had finished working out the twenty-four solar terms. Besides, the foundation of the lunar calendar is our ancestors’ great intellectual achievements. Without any precise instrument, the ancients could predict weather more correct than the so called weathermen.
How did women make up in old times?
Making up is a kind of thing women can’t give up throughout history. There were “three magic weapons” women used for make-up——Dai Power, Zhuang Power and Yanzhi. Dai is a kind of black mineral, which was used to darken the eyebrows. Zhuang Powder is pressed powder. And Yanyin is lipstick, whose raw material is a kind of flowers called “Red and Blue”. Mixed with Zhuang Powder, it could be used as make-up remover.
Without condom, how did the ancients attempt to control conception?
If the emperor didn’t expect his wife pregnant, he would order the eunuch suspend his wife, using saffron to clean her body. The prostitute in old time would use a kind of medicine contained muskiness to control conception. Actually, most ancients wouldn’t control conception on purpose.
How did the ancients deal with the garbage?
The ancients paid more attention to environmental protection. It was an uncivil act to leave litter everywhere. As early as 8000 years ago, the litter would be centrally treated. The quickest way is to burn up all the rubbish directly, or bur. In the relics of ancient dumps, there were many cracked porcelain. Therefore, if you want to be a millionaire, you can look for the ancients’ garbage.
What did the ancients drink, unboiled water or boiling water?
Only modern people would worry about that problem. In old times, there were not environmental pollution, no matter what kind of water was; even rain could be drunk directly. The ancients would drink boiling water when winter came. But the ancients needed to prevent the water recourses from polluting, for the plague mostly related to the drinking water. Those evil persons always poisoned the water to kill people in swordsmen film.
Were there any maps in the ancient times? How did it made?
When Da YU controlled the flood, there was already existed map. The most oldest maps in China was 3 ancient maps in Han Dynasty. The geographer Pei Xiu created 《Zhi Tu Six Ti》, which make the maps more exact. Those people, who made maps, needed to work much harder. So, to make a national map, it needed 10 years, which would be a tremendous and formidable task.
How did the ancients correct misprint?
The simplest way is using brush to wipe out. And that was the way Wang Xizhi and Yan Zhenqin did. Usually, they used brush add point beside the wrong word, and continued to write. Another way was using the material called “Ci Huang” to wipe out the wrong words.
Without insecticides, how did the ancients kill off the pest?
There were many ways to kill off pest in ancient times, including plants, animals and materials. As early as in autumn and Warring States periods, the government sent officials to engage in killing off pest. When the pest invaded in great numbers, all the people would take action to kill pest.
How long did the ancients work in a day? Did they punch the time clock?
Don’t regard the time clock as the modern abnormal invention. Look at the ancients’ working record, and then you will feel more human now. The time that the ancient officials worked: 6 a.m. in spring and winter; 5 a.m. in summer and autumn. If someone took a day without notice or was late, he must be punish according to how serious did he made. So, Being late would be punish by hurting yourselves.
Did the ancient students have winter or summer holidays?
The modern students always complain that the holidays are too short. If the situation had happened in ancient times, those students must be punished severally. They didn’t have specialized holidays, excluding the national holidays, such as New Year’s Day, the Dragon Boat Festival. What the students did everyday was working hard, especially before taking exams. In old times, only officials could have holidays. Therefore, one could have holidays easily as passed the exam.
Did the ancient babies drink milk from goat or cow, or only drink breast milk?
If the babies could drink the milk from goat or cow, there would not have so many babies died early. Usually, the ancients were allowed drinking animals’ milk in a certain age. Because there did not have the technology of pasteurization, the baby was mainly drunk breast milk. If the mother couldn’t produce milk, she needed to “borrow” milk. So, “milk mother” had come into being. But for the poor, they could only buy cheaper food instead.
How did the ancients make fire?
Originally, the ancients would worship when they saw volcanic explosion or lightening. And finally, Sui Ren invented it to make fire by rubbing wood. It was easy to use fire when people knew how to make fire by hitting stone. So, “fire stone” was a must-have in house. But, they needed to warn up the kids not to take, for it was dangerous.
How can an iron pestle become needle? If not, how to make a needle?
In ancient times, metals were regarded as valuables. If the story was true, the grandma in the story must be very rich at that time. But, to make a needle, one need to pay much more patience. Firstly, make the red-hot metal into pieces; and then, cut in several sections; finally, sharpen one end and make a hole on the other end. It is much more difficult to make the acupuncture needles. You should insert the needle in the bacon to make the oil and grease fill up the hole. And the end needs to be round and sharp in case of piercing blood vessel.
Without sanitary napkin, did the women use the menstruation tower only once or again and again?
Besides hair and foot-binding tower, menstruation tower was the longest thing women have in ancient times. The menstruation tower was very long, which women used during the periods of menstruation. But, because women often did physical works, it was easy to see red stains in their clothes. Chinese believe that frugality is the mother of virtue, so women would use the tower again and again. Thanks to the invention of sanitary napkin, women can live in a more comfortable way.
Are they civil servants, who shouted to notice people that the weather is day and be careful in candle and fire?
Geng Fu, liked those patrols, mainly took charge of patrolling and announced the correct time at midnight. They were much more likely to meet ghost than ordinary person. In Hong Kong horrible films, Geng Fu always died suddenly. But, it was still a serious job. Most lower level soldiers were asked to be Geng Fu, just like body guards and policemen. It was sure that they could not earn more than the modern civil servants.
Besides watching Chinese opera, how did the ancients celebrate their birthdays?
The Chinese nation has a fine tradition of respecting elderly people. Only the elderly people can hold big birthday party. When the baby is one year old, his parents will hold big party for him. And, parents would hold small party for children during their birthday. Only getting 60 years old, people were allowed holding big birthday party. At that time, relatives and friends would send presents and give their best wishes. So, if you want to hold big party in ancient times, you need to live long.
Did the ancients brush teeth?
The ancients also paid attention to oral health. Our ancestors had begun to brush teeth by using the middle finger of right hand. And then, “Yang Zhi Brush”, also called “Mu Chi”, was brought into China by monks. The way to use was very simple: biting the branch to make soft and dip some medicine power. The simplest way is to chew. When the modern people live in the open, if you forget take brush, maybe you can try.
What did the ancients do with myopia?
There was not environmental pollution, TV and computer, very few people affected by myopia in old times. Most of them were hard-working students. The ancients thought that one can’t see clearly for lack of concentration. They used massage and acupuncture to cure eyes. In Ming Dynasty, glasses were introduced in China from West. And because of that, people did not care about eyesight as important as before.
Did the ancients have exchequers or safes? How did they hide money?
In the early ages, the ancients would dig holes for saving food, and put stones to board up. Later, they began to use hides to wipe their valuables. With the development of vessel and lock, people began to put money in boxes and cabinets. But, there were still many thieves. The money shop emerged as the times require, and was regarded as the more professional agent to give shelter for illicit money.
Did the ancients wear false teeth?
In Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing invented the method that using amalgam to fill in the cavity. In Song Dynasty, there had professional doctor to insert false teeth. There were much martial to make false teeth, such as ivory, ox bone, and sandalwood. Besides that false teeth could solve your teeth’s problems, they could be decorative. Ya Qiao, was that binding teeth with soft gold thread, and then put into one’s mouth to use as a decoration. It makes people think that parvenu always had lots of gold false teeth in the Hong Kong movie in early times.
Did the ancients smoke?
Tobacco was firstly introduced to China in Ming Dynasty. At the beginning, few people planted tobacco, and few people smoked. As we all know, tobacco did harm to us from the Opium War. And, it was the signal to change Chinese history. During the Guang Xu periods, Englishmen brought cigarette into the mainland. They sent it to people for free, but sold it when people were addicted to.
What did the ancients use to make ornaments, such as gem and jade?
Gold was hot and jade was not. The ancients had known how precious jade was. There is an old saying, “By other's fault, wise men correct their own.” People had known something about rigidity, and took use of harder material to grind stone. The material was always reduced to gravel. Later, people found that corundum was the hardest material. So, no matter how hard it is, people have way to deal with.
Did the ancients only use cock as clock?
If cock was killed, what would people do? Of course, there was another way to deal with. Except clepsydra and sundial, the ancients invented “incense clock”. They used special mold to make round incense of same thickness. They conjectured the time according to the scale. Later, the ancients made improvement of the “incense clock”. When the incense was burned to a certain extent, a hanging weight would fall down, and hit the metal vessel. That could achieve a clock effect.