The story of the novel "Water Margin" is taken from the last year of the Northern Song Dynasty, which was the peak period of economic culture in ancient Chinese history, and the political, military and economic related stories of that era must not avoid the display of the capital City. There are more than 400 mentions of Bieliang in the book, and nearly one-third of the chapters depict scenes in Bijing.
Kaifeng
"At night a thousand years ago, the world's cities were pitch black, and only China's cities such as Kaifeng were illuminated; a thousand years ago, only China had a megacity with a population of more than a million people in the world." ("The Elements of The Liang In Chinese Civilization")
Ancient Chinese cities before the Song Dynasty imposed curfews, and commercial activities were not allowed in the morning and at night. However, in the Song Dynasty, due to the breaking of the market system and the formation of the street market system, commerce developed rapidly, which in turn promoted the official adoption of more advanced management methods in the management of the city.
In the early days of the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty, Song Taizu issued an edict to Kaifeng Province: "It is forbidden to order the night market in the capital to come to the three drums." At this point, night markets were no longer banned after three changes, and the state guaranteed the legitimacy of night market activities from laws and regulations.
Later generations expressed: "Most of the liquor stores and tile markets do not use wind and rain to be cold and hot, and the white nights are like day, as is the case in Khotan." " Open around the clock, visible prosperity.
Such a city that never sleeps made the people of all parts of the country yearn for it, just like today's super-first-tier cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen, full of charm.
The ancient city of Bieliang
Most of the good men of Liangshan in the novel are from the bottom of the country's society, and they have long lived in the countryside from humble origins, and the rich and colorful life of the metropolis has a huge attraction to them.
"I was born in Shandong and never went to Beijing. Smell the big lights, enjoy the people, and celebrate the Lantern Festival. ... ... Now I'm going to go with a few brothers to see the lights and return as soon as they get it. ”
This is a psychological description of Song Jiang in the novel, as the leader of Shuipo Liangshan, he is eager for the prosperity of Bieliang.
So the novel allows us to see all aspects of the city through the perspective of the good men of Liangshan.
The sixth time lu zhi wrote that lu zhi was deep into the bieliang.
Enter the city, but see: thousands of households, one after another Zhu Cui, three cities and six streets, Ji Ji clothing and crown gathering. The Fengge column is nine gold and jade, and the Dragon Tower shows a school of glass. ... The military and the people are celebrating each other, and the year of the prosperity of the Peace and Tranquility is enjoyed; the four-way business travel is interconnected, gathering a place of wealth and glory. Flower Street Liu Mo, many delicate famous Ji; Chu Guan Qin Lou, infinite wind and currents of singers. ... ... The scenery is extremely luxurious, and only Langyuan and Penglai are suspected.
This description of this unsparing and luxurious rhetoric, an eye-opening breath of countrymen entering the city.
01 Daxiangguo Temple, where Lu Zhishen lives
When you enter the mountain gate to see, there is a big brake. But see: the mountain gate is towering, and the Fan Yu is quiet. When the head of the forehead is clearly written, the situation under the two Kings is fierce. Five main halls, dragon scale tiles in a row of green; four walls of monks' houses, turtle back grinding brick mosaics. The bell tower is standing, and the pavilion is majestic. ... ... The banners are continuous, the Guanyin Hall is connected to the Ancestral Master Hall, the treasure covers are connected, and the water and land will pass through the Luohan Temple.
It not only shows the majesty of Daxiangguo Temple, one of the ten major Buddhist holy places at that time, but also helps us to imagine its architectural structure and distribution.
02 Chai enters the palace in his eyes
Xiangyun cage phoenix que, rui mist cover dragon building. ... ... The Zhengyang Gate leads to the ecliptic, and the long hall ends with an arched purple wall. The Hun Yi Tai occupies the stars, and the class to be leaked is divided into wen and wu. ... ... The temple wraps around the railing, and clusters of purple flowers greet the rafters.
It feels like being in heaven and on earth.
03 The White Tiger Hall in Lin Chong's eyes
But he had come to the front of the mansion earlier, and before entering the hall, Lin Chong stood on his feet. ... Turning into the screen, to the back hall, I didn't see the lieutenant. Lin Chong stopped his feet again. ... After two or three more doors, I came to a place where green railings were all around. The two led Lin to the front of the hall again.... Lin Chong took the knife and stood in front of the eaves, and the two men entered by themselves. ... Lin Chong was suspicious, and when he looked into the curtain, he saw four green characters on the forehead of the eaves, writing "White Tiger Festival Hall". Lin Chongmeng said, "This hall is a place to discuss major military aircraft matters, how dare you be invincible, it is not a courtesy!"
04 Interrogate Lin Chong's Kaifeng Mansion
Crimson Wall, Purple Ribbon Zhuowei. When the forehead is hung vermilion, the curtains are draped with bamboo. Bureaucrats keep to the right, and the four lines of the imperial system are carved on the stone; Ling Shi is rigorous, and the word "whisper" in the lacquer card. The tiguan can control the secrets, and the customer accounting department is in charge of the card list. The officers are heavy and the ranks are severe. Holding a cane, waiting for the steps, holding a large staff away from the shift. Pang Mei's jailer is shackled and shows his viciousness; Erect eyes to hold the iron lock, cast a fierce bravery. Household marriage lawsuits, similar to Yu Hengming at the time of interruption; Fights and fights, and judgments are just like gold mirrors. Although a county zai courtier, Guo is the parent of the four people. Straight to the prisoner from the ice, teach people to walk in the mirror. There are not many prestiges, but it is like a statue of a Shinto.
From staffing, etiquette to job responsibilities are clearly written.
05 The goons in the city well
The representative figure is Niu Er, whom Yang Zhi met when selling knives.
First look at first impressions:
When he looked at the man, his appearance was rough. But see: His face is faintly like a ghost, and his body is like a person. The trees turn into skeletons; the stinky piles turn into pickled stingers. All over the body, the skin of the sand fish is oozing from the semen, and the head is connected, and the long fist is bent and curled. The chest is tight and naughty, and the forehead is three strong wrinkles. It turned out that this man was a famous squatter in the Beijing Division, called the hairless big worm Niu Er, who specialized in throwing, committing murder, and bumping into trouble in the street, and even for several lawsuits, the Kaifeng government could not cure him, so that the people of the city hid when they saw that the house.
Let's look at a few words that Niu Er said:
However, niu er grabbed Yang Zhi in front of him, so he pulled out the sword in his hand and asked, "Hanzi, how much do you want to sell this knife?" ”... Niu Er shouted, "What bird knife, you have to sell a lot of money!" I bought one for thirty yuan, and I also cut meat and cut tofu. Your bird knife has a great advantage, called a treasure knife! ”... Niu Er said, "I don't believe it, you put a knife to chop a person I see." ”... Niu Er said, "You said killing people, but you didn't say killing dogs!" ”... Niu Er said, "Do you dare to kill me?" ”... Niu Er grabbed Yang Zhi tightly and said, "I want to buy your knife." Yang Zhi said, "You want to buy, bring the money." ” Niu Er said, "I don't have any money." Yang Zhi said, "You don't have any money, how about holding on to the Shang family?" ” Niu Er said, "I want you to have this knife." Yang Zhi said, "I don't talk to you." ” Niu Er said, "Hello man, slash me." ” …
This is the typical phrase used when the city scoundrels quarrel:
"Kind of you hit me?" "If you don't hit you, you're a twin!"
The ending is naturally that the scoundrel is chopped by a good man.
06 Fireworks Willow Lane in Bieliang
Typical is the residence of a generation of famous ladies Li Shishi.
The four turned around the Royal Street, saw that the two lines were all smoke moon cards, came to the middle, saw a family hanging green curtain, hanging bamboo curtains, on both sides are full of blue screen windows, hanging two cards, each with five words on the card, writing: "Song and dance fairy goddess, flowing flowers and moon Kui." ”... Yan Qing went to the head of Master Li's door, unveiled the green cloth curtain, lifted the bamboo curtain, turned into the middle door, and saw a bowl of Mandarin duck lamp hanging, and on the rhinoceros incense table below, there was a Boshan bronze incense burner, and incense was finely sprayed from the stove. On the two walls hang four celebrity landscape paintings, and underneath them are four rhinoceros leather chairs. Yan Qing saw that no one came out, turned into the courtyard, and there was another large guest seat, with three small beds carved and exquisite flowers in Xiangnan wood, covered with purple brocade mattresses with falling flowers and flowing water, hanging a jade shed with good lights, and placing strange antiques.
Quite tasteful, understated luxury.
Bieliang Night Market
In "Water Margin", Shi Nai'an successfully used the two contemporaneous and completely different stages of Bieliang and Shuipo Liangshan to advance the characters and plots in the novel step by step, intertwining with each other, and successfully completed the complete interpretation of the story of Water Margin and the portrayal of the good man of Liangshan. It can be said that Bieliang is indispensable to this legendary masterpiece.
(Main reference book "The Elements of Beijing in Chinese Civilization")