What is the book in the old hand?

The old hand is holding a marriage book.

Yue Lao (65333)

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Under the moon, the old man tied the red rope to decide the marriage between men and women, which embodies the fatalism concept of marriage in Tang Dynasty and is one of the manifestations of the concept of destiny in Tang Dynasty. According to the Tang people, one's destiny cannot be decided and changed by oneself. "Everything in the world is predetermined" (Li Bi), "Everything of people depends on their fate" (Wang) and "People are born doomed" (Han Quan).

Of course, this preconceived idea of the Tang people is also manifested in marriage and love, that is, "once you get married, your life will be settled and you can't ask for it" (Continued Mystery Record, Mrs. Zheng), and "The way of husband and wife is also everlasting" (Gossip in the Jade Hall, Baby Girl in the Garden).