Nian Beast
年兽
This story is one of the most famous legends associated with Chinese New Year, explaining where traditions like red decorations, firecrackers, and saying “gongxi” come from.
Story
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很久以前,中國有一個關於「年獸」的傳說。很久以前,中国有一个关于“年兽”的传说。
傳說中,年獸是一種住在深海裡的怪獸。每到除夕晚上,年獸就會從海底的山洞跑出來,到村子裡找食物。传说中,年兽是一种住在深海里的怪兽。每到除夕晚上,年兽就会从海底的山洞跑出来,到村子里找食物。
牠不但會吃動物也會吃人,甚至還會破壞房子,所以大家都非常害怕。它不但会吃动物也会吃人,甚至还会破坏房子,所以大家都非常害怕。
為了躲年獸,村民每年除夕晚上都會離開家,跑到山上躲起來。为了躲年兽,村民每年除夕晚上都会离开家,跑到山上躲起来。
有一年一位老人來到村子,他的肚子很餓,所以向大家要食物,但是大家都忙著準備逃走,根本沒有人有時間幫助老人。有一年一位老人来到村子,他的肚子很饿,所以向大家要食物,但是大家都忙着准备逃走,根本没有人有时间帮助老人。
這時候有一位老婆婆說:「來,來我這,我給你飯吃。」这时候有一位老婆婆说:“来,来我这,我给你饭吃。”
老人問為什麼大家要離開。老太太告訴他:「年獸晚上會來,會把我們都吃了。你吃完飯也趕快走吧!」老人问为什么大家要离开。老太太告诉他:“年兽晚上会来,会把我们都吃了。你吃完饭也赶快走吧!”
老人聽完以後笑著說:「不用害怕,我有辦法趕走年獸。」老人听完以后笑着说:“不用害怕,我有办法赶走年兽。”
晚上年獸果然來到了村子。晚上年兽果然来到了村子。
年獸看見房子的牆上都貼著紅色的紙,屋裡屋外也都點著蠟燭,牛、羊還有老人身上都披著紅布。年兽看见房子的墙上都贴着红色的纸,屋里屋外也都点着蜡烛,牛、羊还有老人身上都披着红布。
長年在黑暗海底的年獸不喜歡鮮豔、光亮的東西,眼睛痛得不得了。长年在黑暗海底的年兽不喜欢鲜艳、光亮的东西,眼睛痛得不得了。
接著,老人開始把竹子丟進火堆裡,發出巨大的聲音。接着,老人开始把竹子丢进火堆里,发出巨大的声音。
長年在安靜海底的年獸當然從沒聽過這麼大的聲音,所以感到非常害怕,馬上逃回了海裡。长年在安静海底的年兽当然从没听过这么大的声音,所以感到非常害怕,马上逃回了海里。
隔天早上,人們從山上下來,發現家中的牛羊都還在,家也沒有被破壞,高興的恭喜對方。隔天早上,人们从山上下来,发现家中的牛羊都还在,家也没有被破坏,高兴的恭喜对方。
從此,每到農曆除夕,人們會貼春聯、點亮燈、掛燈籠、放鞭炮、穿紅衣服,希望趕走不好的事情。从此,每到农历除夕,人们会贴春联、点亮灯、挂灯笼、放鞭炮、穿红衣服,希望赶走不好的事情。
然後在隔天新年的第一天,跟見到的人說恭喜,恭喜迎接平安幸福的新一年。然后在隔天新年的第一天,跟见到的人说恭喜,恭喜迎接平安幸福的新一年。
English Translation
A long time ago, there was a legend about the “Nian Beast” in China. According to the legend, the Nian Beast was a monster that lived deep in the sea. Every Lunar New Year’s Eve, it would come out from a cave at the bottom of the sea and go to the village to look for food.
It would eat not only animals but also people, and it would even destroy houses, so everyone was terrified of it. To avoid the Nian Beast, every year on New Year’s Eve, the villagers would leave their homes and hide in the mountains.
One year, an old man came to the village. He was very hungry, so he asked everyone for food, but everyone was busy preparing to flee and had no time to help him. At this time, an old woman said, “Come, come to my place, I’ll give you food to eat.”
The old man asked why everyone was leaving. The old woman told him, “The Nian Beast will come tonight and eat all of us. After you finish eating, you should hurry and leave too!” After hearing this, the old man smiled and said, “Don’t be afraid, I have a way to drive the Nian Beast away.”
That night, the Nian Beast indeed came to the village. It saw that the walls of the houses were covered with red paper, candles were lit both inside and outside, and the cows, sheep, and even the old man were draped in red cloth. Having lived in the dark depths of the sea for so long, the Nian Beast disliked bright, vivid colors, and its eyes hurt terribly.
Then, the old man began throwing bamboo into the fire, creating a loud noise. Having lived in the quiet depths of the sea for so long, the Nian Beast had never heard such a loud noise, so it became extremely frightened and immediately fled back into the sea.
The next morning, the villagers came down from the mountains and found that their cows and sheep were still there, and their homes were undamaged. They happily congratulated one another.
Since then, every Lunar New Year’s Eve, people put up spring couplets, light lanterns, hang lanterns, set off firecrackers, and wear red clothes, hoping to drive away bad luck. Then, on the first day of the new year, they greet everyone they meet with “congratulations,” welcoming a peaceful and happy new year.


