The culture contained in Hakka ancestral hall couplets
The name is the symbol and title of the Han family. The history of surnames is a part of China history and China culture. As a branch of traditional culture in China, couplets are manifested in surname culture. Its biggest feature is the surname ancestral temple. In the past, every ancestral temple with a surname had to write or carve unique couplets. You often know the owner's surname by looking at the couplets on the door.
These ancestral halls are full of couplets with exquisite words, which can let our descendants know the virtues of Hakka ancestors, such as diligence, housekeeping, farming, family friendship, benevolence and morality, respect for teachers and respect for Taoism. Zulian is also a series of Hakka family rules and regulations, and it is a special teaching material for the Chinese nation to carry forward excellent family style.
Ancestral temples used to be called "ancestral temples" or "family temples", which were mostly built in tombs, so they were called "ancestral rooms". The Book of Rites says that only emperors, governors and doctors can set up ancestral halls. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that the imperial court began to allow ordinary people to build "home temples". Later, most ancestral temples were built in or near the family settlement. Because there were not many people at the earliest time, a shrine was set up in the house first. With the proliferation of people, they began to build ancestral temples and even sub-temples.
From the perspective of folklorists, ancestral halls are "interpreting the civilization of the times in their own way". As one of the best preserved ancient buildings in China, the ancestral temple has left many precious historical and cultural research values for future generations. After thousands of years of merits and demerits, the ancestral hall can be seen; China's ancestors, from the ancestral temple, knew that there was a family tree.
China is an ancient civilization with a unique traditional culture and a long history. As an important part of local folk culture, ancestral temple culture began to sprout thousands of years ago in Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, and formed a relatively complete system in Song Dynasty, reaching its peak in Ming and Qing Dynasties. In a sense, the prosperity of ancestral temple culture reflects the social stability and economic development in this historical period, and it is the concrete embodiment of political clarity, national prosperity and people's security.
The author lives in Gannan, which is called the cradle of Hakka. Due to the need of work, I contacted many ancestral temples with surnames and couplets in ancestral temples in southern Jiangxi, and commented on these countless couplets. Therefore, this paper intends to make a superficial analysis of Hakka couplets to show the context of ancient ancestral temple culture.
Trace the origin of the clan
It has always been a deep-rooted traditional concept of the Chinese nation that blood is thicker than water. China people have always been unable to get rid of the complex. This concept is fully reflected in couplets. For example, the Li ancestral hall in Wuzangba, Quannan: "Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Bo Yang has elaborated on it, but his ancestors have not forgotten it; Take the victory of Nanling Taochuan, show loyalty and martial arts, and build the temple owner Zhou Yaozhong. "
Bai Yang, Lao Tzu's word. Lao Zi, surnamed Li Minger, is called Bo Yang. Qu Renli, a native of Guxian County, Li Xiang, Chu, lived from 57 1 year BC to 47 1 year BC. He was a great philosopher and thinker in ancient China, the founder of Taoist school, and was honored as the ancestor of Li by the emperor of Tang Dynasty. The first part describes the long years that the Li family has gone through since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, dating back to Lao Zi, the ancestor of Li surname, and expressing the memory of "never forgetting ancestors". The second part focuses on the present situation and points out that the ancestral temple was built in Taochuan, a beautiful place. Taochuan, or Taojiang River, originates from the eastern foot of Fan Chi, quannan county, and flows through villages and towns such as Dazhuang, Wujiaba, Nanjing, Jinlong and Chengxiang. It joins Huangtian River at the estuary of Shangjiang Township and Gongjiang River, a tributary of Ganjiang River.
1. Outstanding person
There is a couplet engraved on the Su ancestral temple in Ying Shao Village, Shangyou County: "Kunwu gives the surname, Su Guo is far away; Henggong Evonne, Jiangnan Zongzhichang. " The Su Ancestral Hall in Shangyou Ying Shao was built in Ying Shao Village, Huangbu County, located in the east of Shangyou County. The first couplet emphasizes that the ancestor Kunwu gave him his surname. Kunwu: According to legend, the descendants of Zhuan Xu, a fellow prisoner in Xia Dynasty, were sealed in Kunwu country (now Xu Changdong, Henan Province), taking the fief as their surname and called Kunwu's. The descendants of Kunwu were sealed in Su (now Jiyuan County and wen county, Henan Province), and the descendants took the fief as their surname, which was called Su. The second couplet highlights Heng Gong, the ancestor of Kaiji, and expresses the pride of the clan's "long branch".
2. Highlight the area
"Paishao Wuyuan has a long history and a long history. Ji Hong Xiangshui, surrounded by mountains and arches, is a famous area. " This is the couplet of Wang's ancestral hall in Guanyin Pai, Mazhou Town, Huichang County. In the first part, Wang Fa assigned Wuyuan County, which is located in the northeast of Jiangxi Province (at the junction of Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces) and is one of the original six counties in Huizhou. The second part is about the story of Xiang water flowing through Guanyin Pai in Mazhou Town. People's migration is inseparable from their place of residence, and the region shows people's special sense of belonging to their homeland.
Another example is the Tangtang Ruilian of Liren Pear Garden in Longnan: "When the water comes from the text, the tributaries will be long; Branches are the rise of chestnut gardens and have deep roots. " Wenshui, the Li family comes from Wenshui County, Shanxi Province. Wenshui, 76 kilometers south of Taiyuan, is the hometown of Wu Zetian in Tang Dynasty.
Li Yuanwei was built during the reign of Hiroshi (150 1). It was built by Li Qinggong, a five-product official in Ming Dynasty. It is the largest Hakka paddock in longnan county, with the shape of Baguawei. There is a fish pond in front of Juruitang, with an area of 6.6 mu, which embodies the humanistic characteristics of Hakka people's diligent production, emphasis on culture, education and development.
This couplet highlights the place names, one ancient and one present, one far and one near, and outlines the ins and outs of the Li clan in Liyuan at a glance.
Celebrate the whole family
Luokou Town, Ningdu County: "Zhang Yu Shize; The voice of the city. " Zhang Yu (now Nanchang) is the ancestor of Luo people from Xishan, Zhang Yu. Qiancheng is Ningdu, which was called Hua Qian County in ancient times. The couplet praised the influence of Roche's previous generation on future generations and the good reputation of the family.
Another example is Fuxi Roche Grand Ancestral Hall in Dabu, Dongshanba, Ningdu County: "The Lord of Etiquette; Loyal minister and dutiful son. " Couplets praise the unusual family status from both academic and moral aspects, that is, they have the moral norms advocated by the ancients.
There is a couplet in the book "Jiangxia Zhijian" by Huang, a surname in the north of Shicheng County: "The peerless Shi Ze spreads Jiangxia; The first sound shows Yingchuan. " Jiangxia County (now southeast of Yunmeng County, Hubei Province) has a family named Huang. Yingchuan refers to Yingchuan county, the birthplace of the Huang family, and also refers to the Western Han Dynasty. He used to be the satrap of Yingchuan. This couplet gives the Huang family the title of "first" and "unparalleled", which is quite emboldened.
Remembering the merits of our ancestors
It can be seen from many ancestral temple couplets that many of the contents described in the couplets are celebrities with this surname from ancient times to the present, including scholars, civil servants, military commanders, hermits, dutiful sons, etc ... The author praised them from their achievements, morality, cultivation, knowledge and life. Moreover, couplets have a * * * feature, which is mainly to remember the ancestors and flaunt the voice of the family, hoping that the younger generation will inherit the cause of the ancestors and shine on the lintel.
1. General statement
"Zude Liufang will be the sun and the moon; Zonggong is passed down from generation to generation. " This is the Xiaojia Temple Fair in Shitou Street, Laicun Town, Ningdu County. Xiao moved here from Xinmin, a neighboring village, and has lived here for more than ten generations. The couplets only have the word 14, which praises the great achievements of our ancestors in benefiting the sun and the moon and reflects the magnificent mountains and rivers.
This couplet has a clear point of view, only stating one thing, while some couplets take a different approach, thinking about the past and writing about the present. For example, in Shicheng, the Wen family worships the first public temple: "trace the merits of the ancestors, take care of the family and enjoy a long history;" Yang Chongxian, Ji Gang, Wei and Lu Liyan are performing a new chapter. " While recalling the merits and demerits of our ancestors, couplets do not forget the achievements of inheriting the ancestors' discipline and innovating again.
Tang Yun, the son of Li Wujia, located in Qinjiangdong Road, Shicheng County, engraved a couplet: "Longxi is the birthplace, and the tribe breeds Sizude; East of the city, Wen Wei started from Mu Zongen. " While praising Zude, trace the origin of his surname.
2. Praise one or more ancestors.
Xingguo county west street yue Guo gong ci Lian: "the achievements revived the emperor Tang, worshipped each other, and Jiangyou pushed my ancestors;" Mr. Zhao crossed the country and built a temple to offer sacrifices, which laid the foundation for the future. "The temple in Yue State was built to worship Zhong Shaojing, a Yi people. Zhong Shaojing, with a big word, was a native of Qingde Township in Tang Dynasty and a famous calligrapher in ancient China. During the reign of Emperor Jing of Zhongzong, he served as the director of the palace. After Wei poisoned Emperor Zhongzong, he formed a clique and usurped political power. Li Longji, the king of Linzi, conspired with Shao Jing to quell the chaos. Shao Jing led more than 200 people in the palace to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Except Wei, the Wei rebellion was put down in one fell swoop. Zong Rui worships Shao Jing as assistant minister of Zhongshu and participates in government affairs. The next day, it was sealed by the order of the secretariat and Yue Gong. In the first year of Jing Yun, he changed the book of the Ministry of Accounts and became the secretariat of Pengzhou. Xuanzong acceded to the throne and summoned the Minister of Finance. Died at the age of eighty.
The couplets praised the great achievements of the ancestor Yue Guogong in quelling the palace chaos in one fell swoop, and expressed the reverence for him by later generations. This is an example that highlights one of the ancestors.
There are also many people's praises. For example, the Xiao Ancestral Hall in Huichang County: "Zuo Peigong, Hou Feng, is famous for chasing Han; Guan Taifu was promoted to a general, and a large number of talents went back to Lanling. " Pei Gong, Han Taizu Liu Bang, Pei Fengyi, Li Zhongyang, was the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty. In his early years, he was the curator of Surabaya Hall in Pei County, and later he was honored as Pei Gong and Hanwang. The first couplet is a tribute to Xiao He, Xiao He and the Duke of Han. In the Chu-Han dispute, he assisted Gaozu, defended Guanzhong and transferred Cao to the army. The soldiers were not short of food, so they won. High-impedance acceded to the throne, rewarded on merit, rated as the first, and sealed Hou. Taifu, the sixth Sun Wangzhi of Xiao He (about 1 14-47 BC), was a taifu when Xuan Di, the emperor gaozu, was born in Lanling, Donghai (now Lanling Town, Lanling County, Shandong Province) and moved to Ling Du (now southeast of Xi, Shaanxi Province).
In many ancestral temples, it can be said that each surname will describe the proud ancestors and the struggle history of ancestors and celebrities who have integrated into the family; Every couplet is a thought-provoking motto; Every story is a touching blueprint for inspirational struggle.
Give a few examples to readers.
Yang's surname is Yang's ancestral hall in Chenggang Township, Xingguo County: "The breeze yearns for four knowledge, but it is golden, and the honest officials are eager to seek the glory of the world; The snow is three feet deep, the teacher is heavy, and the famous Confucianism and morality are brilliant. "
Four Knowledge: Yang's well-known "Four Knowledge Hall" comes from the story of Yang Zhen in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Yang Zhen, whose real name is Qi Bo, was born in Huayin County, Hongnong County, Eastern Han Dynasty. Less eager to learn, Ming Jing Expo, sometimes called "Kansai Confucius", has served as Jingzhou secretariat and Zhuo Jun Taishou. "The History of the Later Han Dynasty Yang Zhenchuan" records: "Ren Donglai (now Laizhou City, Shandong Province) is the satrap, in his county, passing through Changyi. Therefore, the name of Wang Mi, a Cai Mao in Jingzhou, is Changyi order. In the evening, I survived the earthquake with ten catties of gold. Zhen said,' An old friend knows the gentleman, but you don't know the old friend. "Why," the secret: "Ignorance at dusk." Zhen said,' Heaven knows, Heaven knows, I know, and I know. "What is ignorance?" Come out in shame. Later, he went to Zhuojun County, where he was fair and honest and was not worshipped by private people. Children and grandchildren often eat and walk, so they become elders or want to start a business. Yue Zhen: It's no exaggeration for future generations to know that they are descendants of innocent officials. "Yang Zhen to donglai county after taking office, write in person. The plaque of "Four Knows" is hung on the imperial court as a mirror, which is always used to contrast and spur yourself to become an honest official in history. This is Yang's "Four Knowledge Hall". Later, Yang Zhen's descendants became officials for generations and became famous families in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The snow is three feet deep. This is the story of "Chengmen Sydney". Shi Yang (A.D. 1053 to 1 135) was a famous philosopher in the Song Dynasty. Hongnong (now Huayin East, Shaanxi Province) was a native of Huayin, a member of Longchi Formation of Xiqiao House in Nanjian (now Longchi Community, Gu Yong Town, Jiangle County, Fujian Province), and was a scholar in Xining for nine years. One year, on the way to Liuyang as a county magistrate, Shi Yang went to Cheng Yi's house with his friends for advice. It was the middle of winter and it was freezing. They are halfway, and the north wind is blowing violently. They wrapped up their clothes and hurried on. When I came to the Cheng family, it happened that my husband was sitting by the fire meditating to recuperate. Shi Yang didn't dare to disturb the teacher, so they stood respectfully outside the door, waiting for Mr. Wang to wake up. At this time, Shi Yang's feet were frozen and shivering with cold, but he still stood respectfully. After a long time, Cheng Yi woke up and found Shi Yang standing in the snow from the window. They were covered with snow, and the snow under their feet was more than a foot thick. They got up quickly and welcomed them into the house. Since then, the story of "Chengmen Sydney" has become a beautiful talk of respecting teachers and attaching importance to education forever.
Another example is Yangjia Temple in Huangpi Town, Ningdu County: "The Prime Minister of Dongshan, the first day of Furong, abides by Chen Jun's righteousness; General Lishui, the breeze catkins, circulated Jiang Zuo's article. "
Prime Minister of Dongshan, namely Xie An (AD 320-385), whose real name was Anshi, was a celebrity and prime minister of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Han nationality, and Chen Jun (now Taikang, Henan Province). He is gentle, fair and decisive, not exclusive, not arrogant, and has the demeanor of a prime minister and a Confucian general. According to the biography of Xie An in the Book of Jin, after the western Jin moved south, Xie Jia was depressed, and the young Xie An lived in seclusion in Dongshan, Huiji, Zhejiang. 4 1 year-old, Xie An left Huiji Dongshan and went to Nanjing (then called Jianye) to be an official. He built a villa on a dirt mountain (now Fuhou Mountain in Jiangning District) three miles east of Nanjing, and named this mountain Dongshan according to the name of Huiji Dongshan, so people praised it as Dongshan.
General feishui: August 383, by the feishui river. The Eastern Jin Dynasty fought the former Qin Dynasty and absorbed 250,000 vanguard troops. Fu Jian led 600,000 infantry and 270,000 cavalry, * * *1120,000. Xie An's nephew Xie Xuan, a pioneer in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, led 80,000 "northern government soldiers" with strong combat effectiveness after seven years of training to meet the main force of Qin Jun along the Huaihe River. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, in the face of the siege of the army, the imperial edict was issued, and the ministers were appointed as general Lu, conquering the viceroy. Xu and Xie Xuan, the secretariat of Yanzhou, were appointed as the advanced viceroy. Together with Huan Yi, the general of the auxiliary countries, they commanded 80,000 soldiers to resist the former Qin Dynasty, and asked Hu Bin, the general of Longxiang, to lead 5,000 water troops to rescue Shouyang. The soldiers were divided into three ways to meet them in the north. The Eastern Jin Dynasty won, and Fu Jian was killed after the defeat of the former Qin Dynasty.
Jiang Zuo's article: Xie Lingyun (AD 385-433), Han nationality, ancestral home, Chen Jun (now Taikang County, Henan Province), Huiji Shining (now Xietang Town, Shangyu District, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province), Chen Jun Xie. Zhejiang people, an outstanding poet and writer in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, were called Jiang Zuo in ancient times.
These couplets praising people's surnames are like a cultural history book, from which we can see that the talents emerging in the long history of our country are like bright stars. There are great scholars, civil servants and military commanders, hermits and dutiful sons ... They are concerned about the country and the people, honest and clean, courageous and well-known ... In fact, these couplet characters and deeds constitute the noble moral and cultural traditions of the Chinese nation. This is not only the pride and pride of which surname and nationality, but also the pride of every Chinese descendant in the Chinese family.
Some couplets are vivid and touching to the local area at that time, describing ordinary righteous acts and anecdotes of our own people. For example, Chenjia Temple in Zhuba Village, Lianjiang Town, Xingguo County: "Three Dynasties will be honored; Nine and synonymous scholars. " The House of Justice is about Chen's ordinary ancestor. He is very strict in managing his family. It is said that one year during the drought, a thief entered his house at night, curled up on the beam and stole some property. When Chen knew this, he called all the descendants of his family to teach him a lesson, and taught everyone to study hard and practice hard, otherwise he would end up like this gentleman in Liang. Hearing this, the thief jumped down and fell to his knees. Instead of punishing thieves, Chen helped them make a living, which was later called the home of justice.
"Yang Gong Temple Union" by Sanliao Liao in Xingguo County: "Bamboo sticks are exquisite, and Wan Li rivers and mountains belong to sticks; The green bag is wonderful, and the stars are hidden in the bag one day. " Sanliao Village in Xingguo County is the first village of geomantic geography and culture in China, located in Meijiao Town, Xingguo County. Shaped like Tai Chi, the two temples and seven pools have their own representative meanings. A large number of ancient tombs since the Song Dynasty are collections of geomantic works of different times. A generation of Feng Shui master Yang Junsong once lived in seclusion to preach and teach here.
Establishing a shrine for Yang Junsong, the founder of China Feng Shui, is a unique cultural phenomenon in Sanliao Village of Xingguo. Sanliao Village is a descendant of two disciples, Zeng Wenxi and Liao Jun, who have lived in Yang Junsong all their lives. Zeng Liaoshi is a temple built in, which is located under Yuping Peak in the northwest of Sanliaocun Basin. The "wonderful bamboo stick" mentioned in couplets is an anecdote of Liao Jun, a local. According to legend, he went up the mountain to learn Taoism and lived in Jinjing Cave, Cuiweifeng, Hua Qian (Guningdu County), where he studied Taoism. It was called "Jinjingshan people", so it was later called Liao Jinjing. When Yang Junsong was active in Xingguo, Ningdu and Du Yu, Liao Jun met him in Ningdu. At that time, Liao was young and strong, refused to accept it, and fought with Yang many times. Once, Liao of Huang Bei asked Yang Junsong to specify the location of a gatehouse. Liao Jun determined the position with a compass one day in advance, and buried a copper coin in the ground as a mark. The next day, after Yang Junsong came, he didn't use a compass. He just put a bamboo pole in his hand into the ground, but it was inserted into the square hole of the copper coin. Liao Jun is convinced. He immediately worshipped Yang Gong as a teacher and followed Yang Junsong sooner or later. Liao Jun moved from Huangpi Zhongba to Sanliao Village in Xingguo with his master, and later got the Secret Book of Clearing Capsule handed down from Yang Gong.
Let's look at a long couplet in the ancestral hall of North Huang Zhijian in Shicheng County: "Qinshui Yang Lang, Uncle Man Feng, Han Qing Qian Qing. Twenty-one branches are distributed in China, and the wind of Shaowu shakes the world; Xianfeng, leaning against the sky, the second public legacy, nine bracts and eighteen leaves to talk about the foot of the river. Qin Jiang Wu Jia Jia. " The couplets not only praise the ancestors and grandchildren, but also intersperse the stories of their Huang family. "Twenty-one branches" and "Eighteen leaves" refer to the first year of Zhou (95 1) after the Five Dynasties. Shao Wu, an 80-year-old Huang clan relative, was peaceful, gathered 2 1 family descendants, and then publicly announced a major decision: "Divide the ancestral copper coins and gold and silver accumulated by the Huang family for thousands of years since the spring into 2 1 share. Because the three ladies were crying at that time, Mr. Wang slightly changed his original decision and announced: "Except for Guan, Wu and Zheng, the three ladies each left a room for their eldest son to take care of their mother to show warmth, the other 18 grandchildren were not allowed to love their mother. They must travel all over the world, choose wood and live in the same place. "Then, it was an auspicious day for Jingshan Xiaohong Station to leave home. On this day, the newly revised Huang family tree 2 1 set was awarded to 2 1 son, one for each son, and they were told to carry it with them, keep it properly and never forget it. Gong's strategic vision of separating his children and grandchildren and going to the world independently has been praised by everyone.