The origin and legend of motto
Motto (motto)
One of the inscription styles. The Ming and Yuan Dynasties refer to the words carved on objects, which are passed down to future generations to record merits and praise virtues. Selected works? Inscription by Lv Yanji in Cui Yuan's Motto: Brother Zhang was killed, so he took revenge with his hand, was cornered and was pardoned. He wrote this inscription as a warning. He tasted the right seat, so he said this motto. The motto comes from this. The inscription of the motto is shorter than other inscriptions, and some are just one or two sentences or aphorisms, which are placed next to the seat to warn themselves. Everyone has his own principle of dealing with people, and the motto is a common form of observing this principle. The content of the motto is to encourage yourself, push yourself, or restrain your behavior.
Motto is an inscription. There are two interpretations of "name" in Modern Chinese Dictionary:
() Words describing facts, advantages, etc. On artifacts and slates;
() Be careful with your words.
First-class inscriptions, such as Liu Zihou's epitaph by Han Yu, a great writer in the Tang Dynasty, Sanhuaitang's epitaph by Su Shi, a great literary master in the Song Dynasty, and Xu Jun's epitaph by Wang Anshi, all belong to this category. These classic inscriptions not only add charm to China's ancient prose with their unique literary forms, but also touch countless people with their simple language and deep feelings.
An inscription with two meanings, that is, an inscription to warn yourself, is what we usually call a motto. Its genre, style or couplets, with long and short words, mostly play the role of inspiring self-cultivation and reminding people to save money. According to "History of the South", Wu Jie, a famous Southern Song Dynasty scholar, was good at reading history, and those who had experience in previous dynasties remembered his duties in the right. After a long time, the walls are full of proverbs. This may be the early source of relevant aphorisms seen in official history.
However, as an inscription clock, the earliest inscription is not words, but an object. This is an inscription: It is said that during the Spring and Autumn Period, the Qi people built a temple for the dead Qi Huangong. There is a wine container in it, which wakes up the wine. Once, Confucius and his students visited the temple. He told the students: When the vessel is empty, tilt it, pour wine or water into it, and stand up in the middle; When the device is full, it will tilt. Therefore, in the past, Qi Huangong always put this instrument on the right side of his seat to warn himself not to be complacent. As can be seen from Confucius' words, the earliest motto is this kind of wine vessel called bottle.
Today, in the long river of history, proverbs have evolved into many styles from the original weapons, to the later metal engraving, and to today's writing, which is quite intriguing and its warning significance still gives people profound enlightenment.
Note: Cui Yuan, a calligrapher in the Eastern Han Dynasty, was impulsive when he was young. Because his brother was killed, he killed his enemy in a rage and fled alone. A few years later, the imperial court granted amnesty and returned to his hometown. Cui Yuan knew that she had caused a great disaster because of her recklessness, so she posted an inscription (a style) on the right side of the seat to warn herself.
form
Motto generally includes three forms: ① self-topic; (2) Recording classic speeches or celebrity aphorisms; (3) The first is to ask questions. Mottos are often put where people can see them to remind themselves at all times. It is more common to stick it on the conspicuous wall in the house or write it on the title page of a notebook, and some are posted on the table.
Related legends
Why is this motto called motto, written beside the seat or elsewhere? There are two different legends.
There is a legend that there was a man named Wu Jie in the Song Dynasty who liked history books very much. He wrote down everything recorded in the history books that can be learned from experience and lessons, and put it on the right side of the seat. This is the so-called motto. Inscriptions are words carved on utensils, which record a person's life, career or vigilance. After a long time, even the walls and windows of his house are covered with aphorisms. And then slowly spread. The content of the motto is not only a reference to the past, but also the form is not limited to the right side of the seat.
Another story is about Confucius, a great educator in ancient China.
According to ancient records, this container is a peculiar wine container. When it is empty, it leans to one side. When it is half full, it stands up steadily, and when it is full, it turns over. The enlightenment of this singing instrument is that we can't be complacent, and complacency will lead to somersaults.
Qi Huangong, one of the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period, liked this instrument very much before his death. There is always a stringed instrument on the right side of his seat to warn himself not to be complacent. After Qi Huangong's death, when the people of China built this vessel for him, they did not forget to put it in a temple to worship their ancestors. ,
The origin and legend of motto
Once, Confucius took his students to the temple to worship. Seeing this kind of vessel, he felt very strange and asked the person in charge of incense in the temple. The person in charge of incense told him that it was a Q: device. Confucius then remembered the story of Qi Huangong. Pointing to the container, he said to the students: When the container is empty, it will tilt, pour wine or water into it, and then stand up in the middle, full and tilted. Therefore, in the past, Qi Huangong always put this instrument on the right side of his seat to warn himself never to be complacent. Complacency is like a container full of water, which is bound to turn upside down. After that, he asked the students to take water and pour it into the container. Sure enough, everything is just as Confucius said. Confucius also said to students: reading is the same, modest and beneficial, full of loss. You must remember. After returning home, Confucius also had a vessel made and placed on the right side of the seat, warning him that it is never too old to learn and never satisfied. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the famous scientist Zu Chongzhi also made a ritual vessel for Xiaoliangzi, the son of Emperor Wu of Qi, which was very successful.
Perhaps this singing instrument was lost later, or later generations thought that words could express their thoughts more accurately, so the instrument was replaced by words engraved on metal and placed next to the seat. The inscriptions in the study are not all metal commandments, but also include many aphorisms.