There are various genres of ancient literature in China, and there are different forms of literary expression in different periods, such as the popular Four-character Poem Classic in the pre-Qin period, Fu poems in the Han Dynasty, poems and songs in the Tang Dynasty, and words and sentences in the Song Dynasty, but these are mostly spiritual products of literati and poets. Until the Song Dynasty, with the development of commodity economy, folk secular literature also flourished, and proverbs couplets, a cultural phenomenon reflecting folk production and life scenes and the wisdom of working people, also became popular.
What we are going to talk about today is the traditional culture of couplets. Speaking of couplets, many people will think of things posted on the doors of every household when the Spring Festival comes. This kind of antithesis, which is neatly and evenly coordinated on paper cloth, columns and doorframes, entrusts people with good hopes for the coming year. Not everyone is competent to write couplets. Writing couplets requires not only a good hand, but also a certain literary background. Such talents seem to be rare in today's society, but in ancient times, couplets were a way for people to learn talents.
Throughout the ages, many well-known couplets have been left, some of which are very classic and interesting, and they are also a test of knowledge for couples. Sometimes it is not easy to find a pair with the same structure and artistic conception. "Starve to death without selling watchdog" is a couplet close to real life in Yuan Dynasty, which stumped many people.
In the Yuan Dynasty, dogs played an important role in people's minds. Compared with other animals, dogs are closer to humans, and people even regard dogs as family members. So at that time, the folk saying "No matter how poor you are, don't sell watchdog" was recognized by many people, but at the same time, everyone felt that only the first couplet was incomplete. It would be better if you could find a antithesis with similar artistic conception and the same meaning.
For this reason, many people have burned their minds, and many couplets have sprung up around them, such as "Poor people don't plow fields", "Don't forget to dig wells when drinking water" and "Hungry people don't enter radish gardens". Although some meanings are barely acceptable, the details are still unsatisfactory in artistic conception and sense of scene, and a wonderful bottom couplet is really worth pondering. In literary creation, inspiration is of course indispensable. Many times, fleeting thoughts are more valuable, and so are husband and wife. Finally, the bottom line of "starving to death and not selling watchdog" was given casually by an old farmer.
The bottom line of the old farmer's couplet is "hungry hens", and many people immediately think it is very suitable for a pair. Hunger vs. Hunger, Not for Sale vs. Don't Kill, Watchdog vs. Laying Eggs have the same structure, similar meanings, and even a strong sense of scene, which is perfect for seamless connection with the top line. However, innovation is endless. If the online part is given to you, there may be a more perfect answer.