漢代帝王因為敬老曾多次下詔賜杖，然而賜杖並非是一種普遍性的行為，而是經過一個篩選的動作。受杖者一旦持有鳩杖、几杖，就同時被賦予了參與政事的權利與義務。能夠持有鳩杖、几杖之人，或為三老、太傅等，對於政事均需要有所備詢。因此，鳩杖、几杖除了是皇權的象徵之外，鳩杖、几杖的持有人也同時具備了政事上參與的義務與權利。 鳩杖、几杖雖然是賜給年長者的物品，卻也是皇權的表徵，故不論是毆傷王杖的持有人，或是折傷王杖者，所代表的都是對於皇權的不敬，均會被判處棄市之重刑。 另外，在鳩杖與几杖之上，應鐫有勉勵人之標語，並且鳩杖與几杖之間仍然是有所區分的，鳩杖是勉勵其持有之人能夠盡力輔佐他人，而几杖則是以君子能夠保有其德性為期許。 此外，由於老人星常見於以秋分，故君主敬老授杖於秋月乃根源於此。

Because the Han Dynasty king revered elders once many times issued an imperial order bestows the stick, however bestowed the stick is one universal behavior by no means that but was undergoes a screening the movement. Stick, once has the dove stick, several sticks, at the same time has entrusted with the participation politics right and the duty. Therefore, the dove stick, several sticks besides are the imperial authority symbols, the dove stick, several stick's possessor simultaneously has also had the duty and the right which in the politics participation. Dove stick, several sticks, although bestows senior's goods, actually is also the imperial authority attribute, therefore, no matter is injures by beating Wang Zhang the possessor, perhaps injures Wang Zhangzhe, represents is regarding imperial authority disrespecting, will be condemned to abandon severe sentence of the city. However, in the dove stick with several sticks above, should carve has encourages slogan of the person, and the dove stick still had the discrimination with several sticks between, the dove stick is encourages it to have the human to be able to assist other people with every effort, but several sticks are can hold its morality moral character by the gentleman to hope. In addition, because Mr. star common Yu Yi Autumnal equinox, therefore the crowned head reveres elders gives the stick in the harvest moon is the root in this.