1. Translation of cockfighting from "Tao An Meng Yi. Cockfighting Club"
Vernacular translation:
Cockfighting was very popular in the second year of Tianqi (1622). So I founded a cockfighting club at the foot of Longshan Mountain, and imitated Wang Bo of the Tang Dynasty and wrote a "Cockfighting Call".
Uncle Zhong, Qin Yisheng and others brought antiques, calligraphy and paintings, brocade, Sichuan fans and other items to bet with me every day. My chicken beat them many times. Uncle Zhong was very angry, so he put metal covers and protective equipment on the chicken's paws and feathers respectively. He used all the methods that could help the chicken fight, but he still couldn't win.
Uncle Zhong heard that the descendants of Fan Kuai, Marquis of Wuyang in Xuzhou, were the best in the world in fighting cocks. The fighting cocks they raised had long necks and black beaks, and they were so bold and calm that they could eat rice on the high table. Uncle Zhong was moved and secretly sent someone to look for this kind of fighting cock. After finding no results, he became even more angry.
One day, I read in the unofficial history that Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was born in the You month of the You year, and his country perished because he liked cockfighting. I was also born in You year and You month, so I gave up this hobby.
Original text:
During the Renxu period of the Tianqi period, there was a lot of cockfighting, so a cockfighting club was set up at the foot of Longshan Mountain, imitating Wang Bo's "Cockfighting Call" and calling the same club. Uncle Zhong brought antiques, calligraphy and paintings, brocades, Sichuan fans and other items to Yu Bo on his birthday, and Yu Ji won him repeatedly.
Uncle Zhong is angry. He keeps his distance and his feathers. Anyone who is able to help him with his arms and legs will leave no stone unturned. Not victorious again.
People say that the descendants of Fan Kuai, Marquis of Wuyang in Xuzhou, were the most popular in the world for fighting cocks. They had long necks and black beaks, and could peck millet on the high table. Uncle Zhong was moved and secretly sent an envoy to visit him, but he was unable to do so, which made him very angry.
One day, I was reading the history of barnyard grass, and it was said that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty was born in the You month of the You year, and he was fond of cockfighting and his country perished. I was born in the You month of the You year, and then stopped.
Extended information:
About the author:
Zhang Dai (October 5, 1597 - 1680?), originally named Weicheng, later named Zongzi, Also known as Tiansun, he was known as "Shi Gong" because of the "Shi Gui Shu", so he was also known as Shi Gong, Tao'an, and later Liuxiu Jushi, Die'an, Gujian Laoren (one name is Gujian Taoan Laoren), Kedanlu and others.
A native of Shanyin, Zhejiang (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang), his ancestral home is Jianmen, Sichuan (so he calls himself "Shu"). He is a historian and writer during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In terms of history, he is the same as Tan Qian and Wan Sitong. , Zha Jizuo are also known as the "Four Great Historians in Eastern Zhejiang". They are famous for their sketches in literary creation and are famous as "the master of sketches".
Zhang Dai was born in an official family. He suffered from phlegm disease in his early years and stayed at his grandfather's house to recuperate. In addition to being called "Jiangyan Yan" by his uncle Tao Huxi because of his intelligence and kindness, he also proposed "If If you use a painting with poetic lines as a painting, the painting will not be good; if you use a poem with poetic meaning as a poem, the poem will not be good." and other insights.
During the Tianqi years and the early years of Chongzhen, he traveled leisurely and left a large number of poems. In the eighth year of Chongzhen (1635), he failed to take part in the provincial examination and therefore did not become an official. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, he first fled to Shan to avoid military disasters. After the war, he lived in seclusion in the Siming Mountains. He persisted in poverty and began to devote himself to writing. He wrote "Memories of Tao'an Dreams", "Dreams in the West Lake" and "Shu Guishu".
In the fourth year of Kangxi (1665), he wrote "Self-Formed Epitaph" with the intention of living towards death. He later passed away in September of the 19th year of Kangxi (1680) at the age of about eighty. When he was four years old, he was buried in Xiangli, Shanyin.