Lin Zhi Toe, Zhen Zhen Gongzi, Yu Yu Lin Xi.
Lin Zhiding, Zhenzhen Gong surname, Yu LinXi.
Lin's Horn, Zhenzhen Gong Clan, Yu Linxi.
- The Book of Poetry. ZHOU Nan. Lin's Toe》
Light Rain Literal Translation:
Your toes, like a benevolent man, oh unicorn
Your forehead, like a benevolent public name, oh unicorn
Your sharp horns, like the benevolent common people, oh unicorn
This is a poem that compares the unicorn to praise the princes and nobles.
You will say, what "unicorn", is not the four different, the Evenk common means of transportation elk. Starting with "Lin", we don't think it's easy to understand today. Today, even children know that it is Santa Claus's mount, like a BMW, no matter how luxurious it is, it is just a means of transportation.
However, you may not know that in ancient times, "Lin" was given an extraordinary meaning. Liu Xiang did not hesitate to praise it in the "Saying Garden": "Qilin , the body of the oxtail, the corner of the circle, the faith and righteousness, the rhythm of the sound, the rules of the steps, the choice of soil and practice, the polite movement is Rongyi". It means that it is a deer body with a oxtail, a round head and a horn, a faithful, a rule, a rhythm, no trampling, politeness, tolerance, and etiquette.
The Spring and Autumn Charm says that it has only one corner, implying: "There is one lord in the Ming Sea." These words, the clear-eyed people can understand at a glance, this is the meaning of fooling the commoners into obeying the rules, talking about etiquette, following Confucian morality, listening to the words of the ruling class, and being a good citizen.
But in ancient times, hearing the word "unicorn" was indeed something that made everyone excited and admired. Because the unicorn is not so much a beast, a symbol, but rather a totem, the unicorn is a legendary beast, it is said that it "has hooves without stepping, forehead does not reach, horns do not touch", and is regarded by the ancients as a sacred and auspicious thing.
The appearance of the unicorn as a totem symbolizes people's beautiful yearning for the future of the country and the family. Like the only child now, it is the hope of the whole family and even the whole society, and it is a precious sacred beast that should be held in the palm of the hand like the stars and the moon.
Understanding the supreme position of "Lin" in the minds of the ancients, we can understand the joy and praise that poetry wants to express. The poem uses the gait of "Lin's toe" to lead to the beautiful image of "Zhenzhen Gongzi", and the intersection and overlap of the two images symbolize the benevolent beast Qilin who "does not practice grass and does not walk on insects", and the benevolent virtue of Zhenzhen Gongzi, which is harmoniously unified.
Walking between the turquoise mountains and fields, the unicorn is still a noble prince with extraordinary temperament, he is gentle and smiling, and he comes flying around. Symbolizing the fusion of beautiful images and noble characters, it achieves a perfect unity. Here the Qilin has become the embodiment of the beautiful character of The Zhenzhen Gongzi, just like the ancients compared themselves with orchid grass and beautiful jade, and the Qilin is a beautiful image here. But who the hell is this boy? It is not known whether King Wen was still the son of the Duke of Zhou, or an ordinary nobleman
It is said that in the fourteenth year of the Duke of Lu'ai, the Lu people hunted a unicorn in the western suburbs, but they did not know what it was. Confucius was overjoyed at the sight and said, "This is the Qilin!" And therefore ecstatic, remembered in "Spring and Autumn", and composed a song of "Song of Obtaining Lin". Some people say that this "LinZhi Toe" in the book of poetry is like Confucius's "Song of Obtaining Lin".
It does not matter whether this poem was made by Confucius or not, what is important is that the qilin has an extraordinary meaning in the hearts of the ancients. In my opinion, the meaning of the unicorn is nothing more than two levels, expressing people's hopes and blessings for the whole country, the whole society, and the whole nation.
In terms of the country, it is nothing more than hoping that the monarch will widely exercise benevolent government and let the people have a good life. "Xunzi" Yun: "The king of the ancients, his government is good and evil, and Lin is in the countryside." This means that in ancient times, if the king practiced benevolent government and had the virtue of good life, the unicorn would appear in the countryside. Most of these records show that the appearance of the Unicorn is an auspicious omen that symbolizes the peace of the world and the qing of the Haiyan River.
Therefore, later Confucians, who made articles and sang praises and praises, liked to use such auspicious words as "Qilin in the garden, Luan feng to yi", and used it smoothly, and the emperor also liked to see, which was a good way to have the best of both worlds. Isn't this the core content of Confucius's Confucianism?
No wonder, when Confucius heard that the world had a unicorn, he acted both excited and sad, just like his Confucian thought had blossomed and borne fruit. However, in addition to being happy, he repeatedly exaggerated the Qilin from head to foot, and the sentence did not seem to be very interesting, and it felt very tired and crooked.
However, his almost incoherent joy and excitement are still somewhat felt. Confucius was born in the late Spring and Autumn Period, the world is in turmoil, he wept for the Duke of Lu Ai's "harvest of Lin", and may also feel that the appearance of the Qilin was not the right time. Because not only the king of benevolence and righteousness can rule the peace and prosperity, and only then will there be the beast of benevolence and righteousness?
The ancients used the unicorn to praise the children of the nobility, nothing more than hoping that there will be people in the country, if the princes and sons of the family, all the time, pay attention to benevolence and morality, talk and behavior, follow the rules, and do not cross the thunder pool. Just like the poem depicts, benevolence, generosity, blessing, auspiciousness, then this country, is there no hope?
The Original Book of Poetry says that this poem is "the dragon of the Meigong tribe is a very human being", calling it a hymn made to celebrate the birth of a nobleman, which I think is more in line with the original meaning of this poem. The families of the princes and nobles, the movement is revered by the world, hereditary, and their descendants are naturally "dragon species" and "linzi". It was used to congratulate the nobles on having children, which greatly satisfied the vanity of the princes and nobles.
This is like the joy of the full moon of other children's children, and the guests who come to praise: Oh, you see this child, how good the head is, you see how beautiful the child's feet are, you see how flat the top of this child's head is, it will be a blessing in the future! And so on.
You may not think so when you read it. Born in the family of the princely prince, that is, the dragon son and the dragon grandson, is it true that the children of the nobles are born with the dragon chapter and phoenix, which is a symbol of xiangrui benevolence? Why do they deserve to be celebrated again and again? Aren't there good ancestors and good parents, and are there no one among them who is not worthy of the throne?
In other words, will the prince be a prince, Ning has a kind of hu? This ancient poem tells us: Yes!
At that time, it was also because of disbelief, Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, was angry, shouted out this bold remark, and unveiled the pole. But the uprising ultimately failed. The pattern of the small peasant class in which they were born could not see so far; the limited level of education they received from an early age made them narrow-minded, divided internally, and chaotic; soon after the first taste of victory, the small rich were safe, and they could not stand the shackles of the rules, and the result of wanton behavior was inevitable to suffer the consequences of failure.
However, since Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, as pawns of peddlers, shouted out such bold words as "the prince will have a kind of hu", it seems that a shot of strength has been given to the commoners, and the common people have since "dared to teach the sun and the moon to change the new heaven" and dared to hope that they could give birth to "Linzi". As a result, "Linzi" is no longer the exclusive analogy of the children of princes and nobles, and the children born in the people's house also have the opportunity to use the word "Lin'er" in joy.
Now even if ordinary people have sons, friends will mostly congratulate: "Happy to get Lin'er." It's an auspicious word, but it's also a blessing. If you don't understand this knowledge point, there is a high probability that you will make a joke about a female star some time ago. The female star gave birth to a child, and some fans congratulated "Happy Lin'er" below, and as a result, she enthusiastically told people that my child is not called Lin'er.
As for the reader in your family who has pinned the hopes of the whole family and even the entire family, you say, he is not a Unicorn Divine Beast and what is it!