Couplet culture
The origin of couplets
Wang Anshi, a poet in the Song Dynasty, wrote in Yuan Ri: firecrackers are one year old, and spring breeze brings warmth. Thousands of families always trade new peaches for old ones.
What do "new peach" and "old symbol" mean? In modern terms, it is the Spring Festival couplets. Spring Festival couplets are a kind of couplets. How did China Spring Festival couplets develop?
As a unique literary form, Spring Festival couplets have a long history in China. It began in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, especially in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and has developed for more than a thousand years today.
As early as before the Qin and Han dynasties, there was a custom of hanging peach symbols around the gate every New Year. Fu Tao is two big boards made of peach wood, on which are written the names of the legendary gods and spirits who exorcise ghosts and suppress evil spirits. This custom lasted for more than 1000 years. It was not until the Five Dynasties that people began to put couplets on mahogany boards instead of the names of gods. According to historical records, on New Year's Eve in 964 AD, Meng Chang, the master of Houshu, wrote a couplet on the bedroom door, namely, "On New Year's Eve, Jia Jienuo. Changchun ",the earliest Spring Festival couplets in China.
After the Song Dynasty, it has become quite common for people to hang Spring Festival couplets in the New Year. Therefore, Wang Anshi wrote in the poem "January Day" that "thousands of households always change new peaches for old ones" was a true portrayal of the Spring Festival couplets at that time. Due to the close relationship between the appearance of Spring Festival couplets and Fu Tao, the ancients also called Spring Festival couplets "Fu Tao". In the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding father of the Ming Dynasty, strongly advocated couplets. After establishing the capital of Jinling (now Nanjing), he ordered ministers, officials and ordinary people to write a couplet and put it on the door before New Year's Eve. Dressed in casual clothes, he went out door to door to watch the excitement. Scholars at that time also regarded couplets as elegant enjoyment, and writing Spring Festival couplets became a social fashion.
After entering the Qing Dynasty, couplets prevailed in Qianlong, Jiaqing and Daoguang generations. Just like the prosperous Tang Dynasty, many famous couplets appeared.
With the development of cultural exchanges among countries, couplets were introduced to Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Singapore and other countries. These countries still have the custom of pasting couplets. The earliest couplets.
2
On the eve of the Spring Festival in 964 (the 27th year of Zheng Guang's reign), Meng Changjun, the monarch of Shu, suddenly ordered his ministers to write couplets on the "Fu Tao Board" to test their talents. However, when courtiers wrote dialogues to Meng Chang, Meng Chang was not satisfied. So he personally picked up a pen and wrote on the "Fu Tao Board": New Year's Day, Qing Yu Festival, Changchun.
This is the earliest Spring Festival couplets recorded in Chinese characters. Types of couplets
Judging from the content reflected and the occasions used, couplets can be divided into Spring Festival couplets:
The couplets specially posted on New Year's Day and Spring Festival are called Spring Festival couplets because of their strong timeliness. For example, Vientiane is unified and couplets are updated;
In order to express a certain desire or meet the needs of decoration, couplets used to be engraved on official posts, houses, temples and gardens, or on wooden boards or on wall stones, collectively called couplets.
For example, 1979, the "Yue Temple" in Hangzhou was renovated. Zhao Puchu, a well-known contemporary poet and calligrapher, changed the meaning of Yue Fei's "full of river red" and wrote a magnificent new couplet for the big columns on both sides of the reconstructed Yue Fei statue: I hope the weather will be beautiful, inspire people's souls, revitalize the temple today, reopen the ancient cypress and look up to Chihiro. Marriage alliance:
Couplets specially selected or written on the wedding day can express a warm atmosphere. Such as: skillfully using flowers and moonlight to celebrate autumn night as a spring night couplet;
In order to evaluate the life achievements of ancestors and express the sincere nostalgia of future generations, couplets are used at memorial services or commemorative meetings.
Such as: an elegiac couplet in memory of the beloved Premier Zhou: a long-lived couplet that painstakingly worked hard on the revolutionary cause, such as the towering Mount Tai, shook the world, and the ashes were scattered with the kindness of the Prime Minister, such as drops of rain and dew, nourishing people's hearts;
three
When the elderly celebrate their birthdays, children often carefully write some auspicious words, stick them on the door or hang them in the hall to express their blessings to their elders. Such couplets are called birthday couplets.
Happy as the East China Sea, longevity is better than Nanshan.
Requirements of couplets
The requirements of couplets are both "right" and "couplet". In the form of pairs, they are "right" to each other; The contents of the context take care of each other and are closely related. The upper and lower couplets must have a complete and unified structure and clear and concise language. The requirements of couplets are: the number of words in the upper and lower couplets should be equal;
The phrases of the upper couplet and the lower couplet should be the same: that is, the phrases that make up the upper couplet are several words respectively, and the corresponding phrases of the lower couplet must also be several words respectively.
The upper and lower parts of speech should be consistent; The so-called part of speech refers to the category nature of words, such as nouns, verbs and adjectives. The part of speech of the upper couplet and the part of speech of the lower couplet should be the same and relative according to the order of words. This requirement is mainly to better express the ideological content in symmetrical artistic language.
The syntax of up and down links should be consistent; Syntax is the way to make sentences. In a couplet, the first couplet is composed of several words, so must the second couplet.
Up and down should be harmonious; In the expression of couplets, we should pay attention to the relative melody, that is, the tone is even and gentle. This is mainly for the sake of harmonious phonology, scattered ups and downs, and pleasing to the ear. For example:
Clouds bring bells through trees, go to Ping, Ping, Ping, and move the tower shadow across Ping, Ping in Jiang Lai.
In addition, there are two main syllables in ancient poetry. One is a two-word rice called "two-tone step" and the other is a single-word rice called "one-tone step". Two-tone step is mainly based on the second word, and the first word is not strict, and couplets are also acceptable. For example, the window contains autumn snow in Xiling-Ping-Ping-Ping.
four
Membo Wu Dong Wan Li Ship-Xu Ping-Xu Ping
The "window" of the upper couplet and the "door" of the lower couplet are flat to flat, while "west" and "east" are opposite.
The contents of the up and down links should be related; For example, Gu Xiancheng, the leader of Lindong Party in the Ming Dynasty, wrote such a couplet on the gate of Donglin Academy: The sound of wind and rain, the sound of reading, all care about the family, the country and the world. The first part writes about scenery, the second part expresses ambition, and the content of the first part is closely related, which makes it easy for people to understand the author's self-encouragement and self-motivation literally.
six
After thousands of years' work, he changed the Nishikawa Bureau repeatedly, and made great achievements. He was a hero, jumped to the top of the mountain, died in front of the slope, put down the tiger, and sang frogs at the bottom of the well. Suddenly the iron horse and the golden pavilion, suddenly the silver Di, if not Long song short fu, scattered writing yee hate leisure; Curling cloister, windy and rainy. I was dumbfounded, and there was no return to the four seas. Jumped to death and finally fell into the trap of Gankun. And attach a bow to the dangerous building: look, that cloud is my day?
Note: It was found in Chongli Building, Wangjiang Building, Chengdu. This couplet consists of *** 2 10, which is 30 words more than the above-mentioned couplet of Daguanyuan, but it is not as famous as Daguanyuan. But when it comes to the first couplet in the world, this pair ranks third at most. Look at the two pairs below. 3. This pair is longer (220 words) ... Part I:
Who says peach blossoms are frivolous? Look at that brilliance, adding color to many beautiful women. Drop clear jade dew, envy Wan Yanlei flowing Xia. After all, He Chun didn't go to Murphy to bear one fruit after another. So Zhong Ping set a plan, and the thief Dou Taihou gave a banquet, and Liu Lang wrote an inscription. In addition, nucleolar drugs can treat chronic diseases with jaundice. Dry knives can drive away ghosts and capture the beauty of cats, knowing that the season makes the group fragrant. It is said that autumn chrysanthemum and winter plum, be careful not to blindly follow poison friends. Downlink:
I boast enchanting, overlooking the green ridge, adding He Yun to Qiongge. There is Zhuoming Lake and Shili Jialin to collect scenery and paint. As if the new dust had gone, cranes were flying in the air because of their favor. No wonder Wenshan Range Rover, holding high the joy, visiting friends in Qincun, and splashing ink on the monument. If Tomb-Sweeping Day is resurrected, the fisherman will be called back to despair; The spirits are all near-re-embodiment, and the songs to be sung today. Don't be sad, the red rain falls on the quiet stream, and the coquettish leaves continue to hang down, which makes you believe that ordinary people don't have to feather into immortals.
Note: It was found in Taochuan Palace, a scenic spot in Taohuayuan, Hunan, and is often written by modern people. 4. This couplet may really be the first long couplet in the world (350 words) ... Part I:
Climbing the stairs, it is said that Fei has been here before, and Shi said that Lu Shao came first, and the book of Chu failed. How can it be said that it was copied from which dynasty? Strive to climb mountains away from poverty and congestion, and people who feel at home are on a platform. Only Mi Heng wrote a poem and Cui Hao wrote a poem, which will be handed down forever. Wandering behind the official track, choosing victory depends on the face, connecting Anhui and Henan in the east, Jingxiang in the west, Changyue in the south, and resting in the north. In the vast universe, Hu goes to a stranger. Hang up the eaves, listen to a few times, hang up the sails, play with the snow waves and clouds, and get out of the top of the hundred feet. The towering Pinclay and Liang Dong regained their pride in the gorge, thanks to the efforts of the public. The immortal Xiongnu is an illusion. Xi will wear a sword on his shoulder, drink money in the bushes, play the flute on the ridge and have a crane shadow in the air. Downlink:
seven
Supporting Jie Ge, he said that at the beginning of Xin Qiji, it meant that Bao Mingyuan spread far and wide, and there was no doubt about the history of Jin Dynasty. who did you hear that from？ I admire the emperor's early days from battlebase, and I think of many characters in those days, but the clouds and bears left behind are always bright. The rest robbed King Tu, saying that he was mighty for a while, and was ordered to destroy the yellow string, drive solemnly and widely, practice magical powers, and build zhanghua in one spirit, falling down and heroic, and finally ending in the setting sun. However, the Hanshui River in Fangcheng still remembers Zhou Gezhao Hall, so unlike Qingchuan, it is still Yao Tianshun's day, with hundreds of millions of people climbing to heaven, sweeping the ground, grabbing a clean place, seeing great achievements and celebrating today's happiness. Romantic talk is endless, and I can't appreciate the willow shade, jujube in front of the pavilion, grass color in front of the continent and plum blossoms on the river abroad. Note: Found in Yellow Crane Tower, Wuchang, the author is unknown. This may really be the first long couplet in ancient and modern times. The following couplets are also considered as long couplets:
If you have always been a guest, why do you ask Corning? But there is money in the bag, wine in the urn and food in the pot. Take some old pages and let the waves sing. Wealth should be broad, skin appearance should be stubborn, and facial features should be smart, which is better than a thousand officials. Few people can live to be 60 years old.
If you want to live forever, it is difficult in the air. Only make the ears have no vulgar sounds, eyes have no vulgar things, and the chest has no vulgar things. A few random new flowers crisscrossed. Going to bed late and getting up early, like two days a day, shows that Zheng Xie is over 60 years old.
It is not easy to be loyal to the sword in the cloud. The sound of the army is in Huaihai, but the feeling is in Jiangnan. Looking back on the great rivers and mountains, I will leave Chixian forever.
Anti-Japanese glory, heroism still exists, worthy of life and contributing to the world. Jiuquan should smile, pay attention to the new world and plant red flags all over Zhang Boju to support Chen Yi.
Guangdong is a region where modern historical trends converge. From the Ming Dynasty to the present, China species were left behind, foreign countries were introduced into the market, and even peaceful rise, and all kinds of people gave birth to their prosperity. Mr. Wang stood in the middle of the revolution before his death, connecting the past with the future, washing away the old, highlighting the national justice and recreating Gan Kun; For more than forty years, I have been worried about the country and the people, tearing apart the heavens and the earth, arousing the spirit of independent accounting, and sincerely leaving righteousness for the world.
China is a place where world powers compete, from Taixi to Japan, political plunder, economic occupation, and even conspiracy, fighting for slaves and horses; Our party is suitable, I am sad for the founding of the country, and the clouds are sad and dark. I asked who would succeed and resolutely regrouped; Hundreds of millions of people, but only workers and peasants, must be based on the three people and five rights, Qi Xin's cooperation, follow the legacy of sacrifice and struggle, and become a great cause to comfort Li Dazhao and arm Sun Yat-sen.
eight
Fifty years of rugged roads, dedication to the revolution, dedication to the people, enjoying the world at home, and sharing honesty; Two Long March, which lasted seven years; Exile in a foreign country, if after ten degrees in the Spring and Autumn Period, the reactionary plot draws empty cakes and imprisons several places, which is particularly strong; The party extended to the east embankment, which was a big sign of state affairs, and the loss of great talents was beyond redemption and died.
Twenty years in the same boat, my classmate Su Jing, shoulder to shoulder with the Northern Expedition, Nanchang and Guangzhou, * * * raised the banner of righteousness; Once we broke up across the ocean, the anti-Japanese army flourished, and the whole country fought bloody battles. Maolin was scarred and trapped; I am very happy to get out of prison this time, and meet again after such a long separation. What do you mean, on the black tea mountain, I want to fly to the starry sky; I cried for the growth of my old friend, and the whole world lost my hero, Nie Rongzhen, holding Ye Ting.
Five hundred miles of Dianchi Lake, running to the fundus, draped on the shore, happy and boundless. The east sees God, the west sees spirit, the north sees collaterals and the south sees mourning. A master of rhyming, why not let players board the ship. Riding on the crab island and Luozhou, combing in the wind and fog. It is even more beautiful, dotted with some jade feathers and Danxia. Don't be alone with fragrant rice, clear sand, September hibiscus and March willow.
Thousands of years ago, remember to my heart, empty the wine, sigh who is the hero. I want to learn from China Ship, Tang Biao Iron Column, Song yu fu and Yuan Dynasty Leather Bag. Wei Lie played an important role in moving mountains and rivers. Draw a building with a bead curtain, and the volume is not as good as the sunset rain. Then I broke the wreckage and gave it all to the pale smoke. Only won a few pestle bells, half a river fishing, two rows of autumn geese and a pillow to clear the frost.
[Qing] Sun Youti Kunming Dianchi Grand View Building: