It means: talking and laughing while having a feast. Yan: Tong means "banquet", banquet.
From "Xiaoya·Polygonium Xiao" by an unknown person in the Western Zhou Dynasty, excerpt from the original text:
Polygonium bi Xiaosi, zero exposure. Now that I see a gentleman, I write in my heart. Yan smiles and talks, so he is famous.
Polygonum is shabby, and there is no dew. When I see a gentleman, I become a dragon and a light. If his virtue is not good, he will not forget his longevity test.
The polygonum is slender and there is no mud. Now that I have seen a gentleman, how can I be my brother, Kong Yan? If you are a good brother and a good brother, you will have good virtue and longevity.
The polygonum is slender, and the dew is thick. When I see a gentleman, I rush into each other's arms. Like Luan Yong Yong, all blessings are the same.
Translation:
The mugwort grows tall and long, and the dewdrops on the leaves are shiny. Now that I have met Emperor Zhou, I feel really comfortable. They were chatting and laughing while feasting, so everyone was happy.
The mugwort grows tall and long, and the dewdrops on the leaves are thick and bright. Now that I have met Emperor Zhou, I feel favored and honored. Your virtue is impeccable, and I wish you long life and no boundaries.
The mugwort grows tall and long, and the dewdrops on the leaves are moist and bright. Now that I have seen Emperor Zhou, I feel very happy. Just like brotherly love is strong, virtue is flawless and life is long.
The mugwort grows tall and long, and the dewdrops on the leaves are thick and thick. Having met the Emperor of Zhou Dynasty, the fine horse is decorated with brass. The bells jingle melodiously, bringing all blessings to the holy bow.
Extended information
Creative background:
This poem should be a poem for the princes to sing praises to the Emperor of Zhou when they met with him. In the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the country was prosperous and princes came to court one after another to express their submission. The king of Zhou also held a banquet to entertain him. This poem is a song praising the king of Zhou at the banquet.
The main theme of the whole poem:
This is a typical congratulatory poem, which expresses the respect and praise of the princes when they meet the emperor of Zhou. This poem uses implicit and vivid writing techniques to cleverly clarify the purpose of the poem: the emperor's kindness extends to the world, and the princes are fortunate to accept his favor.
Source of the work:
"The Book of Songs" is the beginning of ancient Chinese poetry and the earliest collection of poetry. It collects poems from the early Western Zhou Dynasty to the middle of the Spring and Autumn Period (11th century BC to 6 BC century), there are a total of 311 poems, 6 of which are Sheng poems, that is, they only have titles and no content, and are called the six Sheng poems (Nanmei, Baihua, Huashui, Youkang, Chongwu, and Youyi) , reflecting the social outlook of about 500 years from the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty to the late Zhou Dynasty.
The author of "The Book of Songs" is unknown, and most of it cannot be verified. It is said that it was collected by Yin Jifu and compiled by Confucius.
The Book of Songs is rich in content, reflecting labor and love, war and corvee, oppression and resistance, customs and marriage, ancestor worship and banquets, and even celestial phenomena, landforms, animals, plants and other aspects. It is a masterpiece of the Zhou Dynasty A mirror of social life.
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