Wood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea have been collectively called "seven things to open the door" since ancient times, which means that no matter how rich or poor, a day's life can't be separated from these seven things since opening the door in the morning.
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However, Meng Lianglu, edited by Wu in Song Dynasty, lists eight things: firewood, rice, oil, salt, wine, sauce, vinegar and tea. But wine is not people's daily necessities, so in the Yuan Dynasty, "wine" was gradually removed and became "seven things". There is often a saying in Yuan Zaju, "Seven things to get up early and open the door, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea".
In the old society, ordinary ordinary families struggled for their lives every day, mainly for this "seven things to open the door." Some elegant people are inevitably worried about eating. The feelings of these literati are also different from those of ordinary people, or inspired by feelings or games, leaving poems about "seven things" to future generations.
Entering poetry with "seven things" was first seen in the Yuan Dynasty zaju "Liu Xingshou" with a 20% discount: "Teach you to be a master instead of a master until you become a master; Seven things to open the door early, rice, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar tea. " Between the lines, the hard work of being a master for the "seven things" is vividly displayed.
Tang Bohu, a famous painter and writer in the Ming Dynasty, touched the scene and sang a poem "New Year's Eve" on New Year's Eve, clearly proposing "seven things": "All the rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea are in other people's homes; There is nothing to do in the twilight, and I wish the Tang Temple to see plum blossoms. " This poem not only reflects the author's poor living conditions, but also reflects his optimistic attitude towards life, which makes him feel interesting after reading it carefully.