The moonlight is colorful like a rainbow, and tigers in the mountains are born at night. The tiger is lovely, radiant and full of strength in his eyes. Shi Weng is old and handsome, but he needs to look at charming eyes and eyebrows. The essence of Jupiter is purple gas, and the jade water rhinoceros is born on the mountain. Er Weng is not as famous as his son Weng, and he has been famous all over the world for 30 years. The high position of things is cherished by the office, and it is comforting to talk about this child. Everyone likes the Weng family to wash their children, and they don't hesitate to spend money. Wanling will see more and more halls, with bright horses and chariots.
The main idea of this poem about washing children is that the tiger gave birth to a son last night. When the tiger was born, his eyes were wide open and he was shocked. Although the poet is old, he is still handsome. From his father, you can imagine the handsome eyebrows when the baby grows up. This son's father is very different from other people's fathers. For 30 years, his reputation has been well-known all over the world. However, although his talent is high, his official position is low. Everyone feels sorry for him. So, God gave him this son as comfort.
Later, Fan Zhongyan wrote a poem about washing children with Ouyang Xiu's rhyme:
Looking around, the auspicious spirit is full of neon, and Kirin was born in the sky; Our children are equal in length and don't care about the milk of the eagle or the strength of the tiger. Sheng Yuji's fifth child is educated. This child is a good horse with white eyebrows. Eyebrows and hands show the whole head, horns shrug and lights shine on Tong Tianxi. At present, in the basin of washing orchids, English things try to cry fleas; This noble family has an active academic committee, which Yu Sheng has learned. I was very happy in the morning and learned the bayberry in the emperor; Your son is thousands of miles away, so it will be strange to see the son of heaven again.
It begins: "Unicorns were born in heaven." Kirin is the highest god beast recorded in China ancient books, symbolizing good luck. Kirin refers to a gifted child, that is, a child with unusual intelligence was born in this world. Next, he said, "Nowadays, in the bath basin, English things try to crow and flea, which is well known" (the word "flea" means "early"). The basin is a baby's bath basin. The initial crying means that the newborn baby will cry loudly and will be extraordinary in the future. This is all praise and prayer. The last two sentences: "Your son is a swift horse, and it will be strange to see the son of heaven again." This baby is your swift horse, and it will be appreciated by the emperor again in the future. These two sentences also secretly echoed Ouyang Xiu's defense of Mei Yao Chen.
Next, Fu Bi, a politician who promoted the "Qingli New Deal" with Fan Zhongyan, also wrote a poem about washing children. Finally, Mei presented a poem to thank Xi 'er's friend, and also wrote an answer poem, which also used the rhyme of Ouyang Xiu's original poem, entitled "Answering Uncle Yong's Children's Songs in Rhyme". The original poem is as follows:
In the night dream, someone gave me yellow turtle according to neon; Looking up, the stars are gradually moving, and Yu Kuidong refers to life. In the Ming dynasty, my wife was suddenly in a cup, but she gave birth to a real girl. Self-grinding cinnabar to adjust white honey, seeking good fortune and avoiding evil without precious rhinoceros. I have to let my friends know that I am interested again in my old age; Kaifeng Yin Da was the most compassionate. He celebrated with wine and songs. Painting a pot of perfume to make you happy, an old horse may not be able to walk Wan Li Road. Lutong was often poor all his life, and Tianding was his son.
The main idea of this poem is that the night before Mei's son was born, he dreamed that a Taoist gave him a turtle, so he named his son turtle. Then, I am so old and have a son, so I must tell my friends. It is a pleasure to bathe your son with beautiful pots and perfume, but an old horse may not be able to run thousands of miles again.
This is the pleasure of literati.
Su Dongpo's "Children's Washing Poems" Speaking of children's washing poems, the most famous is naturally written by Su Dongpo. Su Dongpo is an all-round literary artist who is good at poetry, ci, writing, calligraphy and painting. As far as the article is concerned, he, Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan in the Tang Dynasty, Ouyang Xiu, Su Xun, Su Zhe, Wang Anshi and Ceng Gong in the Song Dynasty are also known as "eight great masters in Tang and Song Dynasties". In poetry, he and Huang Tingjian are also called "Su Huang"; In terms of words, he and Xin Qiji are also called "Su Xin"; In calligraphy, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fei and Cai Xiang are called "Four Great Calligraphers in Northern Song Dynasty".
Although Su Dongpo was brilliant, his career was bumpy. He lived through four dynasties: Song Renzong, Yingzong, Zongshen and Zhezong. He opposed Wang Anshi's political reform thought, and later opposed Sima Guang's abolition of the new law. It can be said that both sides are not pleasing. He was once transferred to other places to be a small official, and was demoted to Huangzhou, Hubei (now Huanggang, Hubei), Huizhou, Guangdong (now Huiyang, Guangdong) and Danzhou, Hainan Island three times. In his later years, he wrote a poem, which can be regarded as the end of his political career:
My heart is like a gray wood, and my body is like a boat without a tie. I asked about your occupation, Huangzhou, Huizhou and Danzhou.
Su Dongpo was in his forties when he was relegated to Huangzhou, and his concubine Chaoyun gave birth to a son named Su Dun. During the three dynasties, Su Dongpo wrote a poem about Xier:
Everyone expects to be smart when adopting a son. I have been cheated by cleverness all my life. I just hope that my children will be silly and honest, and there will be no disasters and no difficulties.
The first two sentences show that Su Dongpo knows that he is an extremely smart person, and complains that he has no chance to give full play to his talents all his life. The last two sentences satirize a dull person, who can achieve the position of a big official without any difficulty.
Qian, a writer and politician in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, also wrote a similar poem entitled "Anti-Dongpo Drama Poem":
Pugong's adopted son is afraid of cleverness. I've been delayed by dementia all my life. I'd rather have a clever son.
The first two sentences can be understood as pleasantries. Su Dongpo is clever, but I am stupid. In fact, "dementia" can also be interpreted as honesty and simplicity, which is completely opposite to the following. It's narrow-minded, it's rhetoric, it's hypocrisy. "Taking advantage of the loophole and suddenly making it public" is just a guess, meaning to be a big official.
Bai Juyi's granddaughter's full moon poem According to the traditional custom in China, the baby is celebrated at the full moon one month after birth. There is another subtle difference in celebrating the full moon. A full moon is not considered until a baby boy is born 30 days, and a baby girl is not considered until she is born 29 days. Three days or full moon after the baby is born, the banquet of relatives and friends is called "soup porridge feast", and soup porridge is a kind of noodle soup. According to legend, Gao Ze in the Northern Qi Dynasty gave birth to a son, imitating folk customs, and entertaining friends and ministers with soup and porridge. This is the origin of the word "soup porridge feast".
Bai Juyi has a poem "When I was young, I liked to talk about my granddaughter's full moon":
Today, the couple are happy, and others don't know. I was surprised to see Sun Chi because I was born late. Things are rare, and feelings are more cordial because of old age. Happy new year, full moon begging for fame. Guiliao smoked flowers and fruits, and Lantang washed jade muscles. Why be a man when you have something in your arms?
How can others appreciate the joy of today's young couple? Laughing at my daughter's late birth, no wonder I can't expect my grandson until I am very old. Things are rare, and when you get older, you will increase your love for your grandchildren. On New Year's Day, auspicious day and full moon, ask me to give my granddaughter a name. There are flowers and fruits in the smoke of osmanthus. In the perfume room, washing jade skin, there is a new life to hold in your arms, why must it be a boy?
The last two sentences refute the concept of patriarchal society in ancient times. By the way, Bai Juyi named his granddaughter "Athena Chu".
This article is excerpted from the book "China's Power Upward: Things Not Taught in Chinese Class 3".