"Night sailing" is the most common and important means of transportation in ancient Jiangnan water towns. Since the economic center of China moved southward in the Song Dynasty, the economy in the south of the Yangtze River has developed vigorously, and the cross-regional exchanges of personnel and materials have become increasingly frequent, which is far from a one-day trip to an ordinary market. So some ships have to sail at night, and this kind of ship that continues to sail at night is called "night sailing ship".
At that time, night ships were everywhere in Jiangnan water town. "All the divisions gathered in towns and villages, and gathered guests to install Nightcrawler, which was called a night boat. In times of peace, it is everywhere. "
In the night boat, Jiang Feng fished for fire and drifted alone. Passengers on the ship from north to south include scholars, wealthy businessmen, officials who go to work, and people who visit relatives and rely on friends. All kinds of people have everything, and they can't help talking about the past and the present when they are idle. If what is said here is absurd, it will often be ridiculed and embarrassed. Therefore, there is a "learning world".
Once upon a time, a monk and a scholar lived on a night boat. Scholars talk a lot, monks are scared, and their fists are sleeping all over the floor. The monk heard that there was a flaw in his speech and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Xiang, is Mrs. Tan one or two people?" The scholar said, "It's two people". The monk asked, "Is this Yao Shun one person or two?" The scholar said, "Nature is lonely!" The monk smiled and said, "We'll see. Let's wait for the young monk to stretch his feet.
Therefore, Zhang Dai wrote a book about China's cultural knowledge, named "Night Sailing Boat", so that people would not lose face on similar occasions. But don't let the monk stretch his feet.