Couplets are one of the traditional forms of literature that are popular among the Chinese people. Speaking of couplets, the earliest can be studied to the Spring and Autumn Warring States period, which originated from the thing called "Peach Rune", which was mainly used by the people to exorcise ghosts.
As one of the most important worships of China's primitive ancestors, the belief in ghosts and gods is deeply rooted in Chinese civilization that has lasted for thousands of years. Therefore, the superstition of the ancient people about ghosts and monsters is actually not entirely the product of feudal ignorance. In this way, it is also very reasonable for the people to think that the peach charm can drive away ghosts and avoid disasters.
In this way, as the predecessor of the couplet, Tao Fu drove away ghosts for hundreds of years in Chinese history. It was not until the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period that the real couplet appeared, followed by the flourishing of the couplet culture.
Unlike other traditional forms of literature, couplets can be described as a combination of a variety of expressions: to test the heart, to celebrate, to talk about love, to ridicule current affairs, and even to criticize current politics. So diverse and inclusive, it is no wonder that the literati rioters, and even the heavenly nobles, have a lot of good feelings for the couplet.
Speaking of couplets that can test the mind, this has to mention an interesting thing he caused. It is said that during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, a talented woman who moved the Beijing master planned to recruit relatives, but the competition seemed to be too unconventional, so the talented woman decided to change the pattern and come to a biwen to recruit relatives, as the name suggests, that is, whoever has a high literary talent can marry a talented woman.
Hearing such news, all kinds of talents came to the home of the talented woman one after another, wanting to show their skills. So not only can you show off your skills in front of others, try to be hilarious, maybe you can also hug the beauty in one fell swoop, such a beautiful thing, why not enjoy it?
When the time comes, more than a hundred people gather in the home of the talented woman, so it is not busy. However, after all, the talented woman is a talented woman, and the first question will be difficult for many people, and then more than ten questions have eliminated many people. In the end, when there was only one student left, the talented woman seemed to look at him and said to the student, I will make a league, and I will marry you when you are right.
After saying this, he said that "rain has no portal to stay guests", secretly thinking that the couplet is so implied, the student will not fail to understand his feelings. Who knew that the next second the book student blurted out a sentence of "rainbow has a bridge that does not cross people", the talented woman and the rest of the students present listened, and they were stunned when they boarded, and the scene was very embarrassing.
Dear officials, what are your thoughts? It turns out that the couplet of the talented woman means that although the rain has no portal, it can keep people, just as the talented woman did not explicitly say that I wanted to marry you, but I hope you can understand my intentions. And the right meaning of the student is that although the rainbow has a bridge, it does not cross people, then I understand that although you have feelings for me, please miss understand that I do not accept your kindness. In this way, it can really be said that "the goddess has no intention of dreaming of the Xiang King".
Speaking of the above thing, this scholar finished the pair, and did not care about the "low-pressure atmosphere" present, and then left the table leisurely, hiding his merits and names. It was rare for the crowd to look at the beauty so indifferently, and for a moment they could not help but sigh.
If the talented woman is to the officials like this, I don't know what pairs you will come up with, how will you respond to the talented woman?
Reference: The Story of China