How to view the ancient people's evaluation of Guangdong's livability: "Lingnan is full of miasma"

"Lingnan is full of miasma" is actually a way to encourage friends to overcome difficulties spiritually by saying that the miasma in Lingnan is frightening and makes it difficult to survive and protect themselves.

The miasma in Lingnan does not specifically refer to Guangdong. Lingnan refers to the area south of the Five Ridges in southern China, which is equivalent to the entire territory of Guangdong and Guangxi, as well as parts of Hunan, Jiangxi and other provinces. This area is quite extensive.

In the writings of many literati who praised Lingnan, the mountains and rivers of Lingnan can be described as extremely dangerous. The poem "Twenty Rhymes of Seeing Off Guests on a Spring Tour to Lingnan" written by Bai Ju in the Tang Dynasty is very representative. The poem says: "The miasma makes it difficult to grow old, and the barbaric hair is difficult to tame. The native people have few white heads, the cave masters are all yellow scarves, and their faces are bitter and palm-shaped." , The pulp is sour, the spring is warm, and there is no frost in the poisonous grass. The clouds are full of pythons, and the swords and crocodile scales are on the road. Many officials banish the ministers, and the rain is black. The message is that the wheel will return early. Beware of the poison in the cup, and don't care about the treasure in the cup. The north and the south are different, and the goods are close to each other. "The poem is full of miasma, greedy springs, poisonous weeds, pythons, crocodiles, and hurricane mothers. Images such as poison and fears of disease, aging, and death are, as Zhang Shuhui said: "A very typical mixture of what poets know about the south from classics and rumors.

The ancients believed that the miasma in Lingnan made it difficult to protect oneself. For example, in the Tang Dynasty, Han Yu was demoted to Chaozhou for admonishing the Buddha's bones. He was so frightened that he became physically and mentally sick, and everyone along the way helped him understand the difficulties. On the way, he met his nephew and chanted, "I know you are far away, so I can collect my bones." "By the Miasma River" Han Yu could never adapt to Lingnan, so he wrote to the emperor asking for pardon whenever he had the opportunity.

Using the terrible extent of the miasma in Lingnan to encourage his friends to overcome it mentally. In the poem, he praised the miasma in Lingnan For example, Zhang Ji was very excited about the prosperity of the country and the surrender of Lingnan. He wrote a poem and said: "The holy dynasty selected generals to hold the talisman festival, and the internal envoys were informed of the announcement. The barbarians from Haibei came to dance, and the people from Lingnan closed the gates and sent out scriptures. White pheasants flew around the official boat, and red hibiscus trees opened as a banquet pavilion. Don't talk about the miasma here. Look at the Canopus star in the sky. Gao Shi also said to his friends when sending him off: "Lingwai is a powerful town, and the court favors Jieyan." Yueqing came to the shogunate, and Xingshi came to Cao Cao. The sea is as wide as Yangcheng, and the mountains are as high as Xiangjun.