Spring Festival couplets: An indispensable tradition of the Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year is an important festival full of joy and ritual, and the Spring Festival couplets play an important role as an indispensable tradition of the Spring Festival. These couplets are often pasted on places such as doorways, walls, and kitchens, symbolizing that the new year will bring good luck and good fortune. This article will delve into the background, origins, common traditions, layout rules, and some interesting anecdotes to help readers better understand this ancient Chinese tradition.
The background of the couplets
As one of the traditions of the Spring Festival, Spring Festival couplets have been deeply rooted in China. Traditionally, couplets have been characterized by handwriting and homemade paste, however, modern lifestyles have made them more simplified. Still, this tradition retains their core characteristic, which is to bring good luck and wishes. Spring couplets are usually colored red, as red symbolizes luck and prosperity in Chinese culture.
A common tradition of couplets
Spring Festival couplets have a deep tradition in both rural and urban China. They are not only pasted on the doorstep, but also appear in different places such as halls, kitchens, gates, and even spring couplets on the pigsty. This traditional way of sticking Spring Festival couplets is to convey New Year's wishes to every corner, bringing good luck and good luck.
The origin of the couplets
The origin of the Spring Festival couplets can be traced back to the time of the Later Shu monarch Meng Chang. He was the first emperor in Chinese history to formulate and promote the Spring Festival couplets. Under his rule, the earliest neat pairs began to appear, which also laid the foundation for the later Spring Festival couplet tradition. These couplets are meant to express wishes for a good harvest and good luck.
Peach charms and door gods
The predecessors of the Spring Festival couplets can be traced back to the Taoist door god portraits on peach wood boards, which were used to ward off evil spirits and protect the peace of the family. Over time, these door deity depictions evolved into modern couplets, but they are still religious, implying the protection of the gods.
Zhu Yuanzhang's implementation
In the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang promoted the tradition of Spring Festival couplets, popularizing them from royal aristocrats to ordinary people. This initiative makes the Spring Festival couplets an integral part of the Spring Festival celebrations. Zhu Yuanzhang's contribution lies not only in the promotion of traditions, but also in the layout of the couplets and the establishment of rules, which are still followed today.
Layout and rules of the couplet
Spring couplets are a special form of couplet that has its own unique layout and rules. First of all, the upper and lower couplets of the couplets usually have an equal number of words to maintain balance. Second, the couplet should be relatively short in word count so that it can be easily attached to the doorway or wall. The most important thing is that the upper and lower couplets of the couplet should have requirements such as the relative of the virtual and the real, the battle, the rhythm and the peace. These rules make couplets a literary art, with the beauty of sound and the expression of artistic conception.
How to distinguish between upper and lower links
When pasting Spring Festival couplets, there is an important principle of "right and left", that is, the right couplet should be pasted first, and then the left couplet. This rule helps to ensure the battle and rhythm of the upper and lower couplets. In addition, according to the difference in the sound of the flat, the position of the upper and lower links can also be determined. While this rule has some flexibility, it is key to maintaining the beauty of the couplet.
Some anecdotes about the couplet
In the cultural history of China, there have been some notable couplets that have aroused interest because of their uniqueness. For example, Tsang gave a couplet to a prostitute: "Water is made of tears, and tears are made of water." This couplet expresses deep emotions and also reflects Zeng Guofan's literary accomplishments. Another interesting example is Emperor Qianlong's shortest couplet: "All the best" and "Five Blessings", two short couplets that imply good luck. In addition, the longest couplet in China was created by Zheng Banqiao, a famous literary scholar of the Qing Dynasty, and is 36 crosses long.
The color of the couplet is exquisite
When pasting Spring Festival couplets, the color is also a little particular, especially when there are elders in the family who have passed away. Traditionally, the color of the couplets is mainly red, as red symbolizes good luck and happiness. However, when an elder in the family passes away, the color of the couplets is usually white as a sign of mourning. This tradition reflects the respect for elders and nostalgia for the deceased in Chinese culture.
epilogue
In general, Spring Festival couplets are an indispensable tradition for the Chinese New Year, which carries rich cultural connotations and emotional sustenance. Whether in the countryside or in the city, whether in the home or in the store, the Spring Festival couplets play an important role in wishing luck and auspiciousness. During the Spring Festival, couplets are pasted on every household, a tradition that has not only been passed down for hundreds of years, but will continue to contribute to the diversity and prosperity of Chinese culture. By understanding the history and significance of Spring Festival couplets, we can better appreciate this ancient tradition and understand its importance in Chinese New Year folk activities.