What is the "fountain pen fee"? Is it the extra income of ancient literati?

The meaning of tap water pen fee Those who have seen Kangxi's private visit may remember that there is such an ironic fragment in the story of selling officials: a magistrate auctions his official position according to the size of power. Someone offered 3,000 yuan, and they shouted "Poor white hair, three thousands of feet". Others even paid the price of "suspecting that the Milky Way has fallen for nine days" in order to buy an official. Of course, this is only an artistic exaggeration and irony. It shows that the magistrate wants to make money on the one hand, and pretends to be lofty on the other, and his complaints are expressed in poetry.

In the same sense, the golden pen fee is essentially the reward or reward obtained by ancient literati through writing and painting. Ancient literati, who pursued the spirit of helping the poor and being happy, didn't like the word money in their hearts, so the reward they got from writing or painting was called embellishment. Because the other party has no useful way to embellish this, the title is different.

For example, the gift is called pen polish; The money given away is called runzi. During the Tang Dynasty, scholars all called it "Runbi": a song; In the Song Dynasty, the money gained by literati through calligraphy and painting was also called Xiang Hui, and in the Ming Dynasty, it was said that it was beneficial to the market. Actually, it's just a winning lottery. Many calligraphers in ancient times also sold calligraphy and painting as extra money to supplement their families when they were down and out.

Runbi seems to be free, but it is different for everyone.

For example, many people in China like Jia Pingwa's calligraphy very much at present. Especially some noodle restaurants, bookstores and so on. They all regard seeking ghosts as a lifetime blessing. As a result, this tap water pen fee was clamored by the market.

In the early 1990s, a 4-square-foot word was about 500 yuan. Up to now, Jia Pingwa's words have cost 40 thousand each. Pen fees turned a genius into a rich man. Of course, as for others, maybe 4 yuan is the only one and no one wants it. After all, Jia Pingwa is not an ordinary person.