The culture contained in the couplets in Hakka ancestral halls (Part 1)

Names are the symbols and titles of Han families. The history of a surname is part of Chinese history and part of Chinese culture. Couplets, as a tributary of traditional Chinese culture, have been shown to a certain extent in the surname culture. Its biggest feature is reflected in the surname ancestral hall. In the past, unique couplets had to be written or engraved in the ancestral hall of each surname. You can often tell the surname of the owner of the house just by looking at the couplet on the door.

These couplets in these ancestral halls are voluminous, and each word is exquisite. They can help our descendants understand the virtues of the Hakka ancestors who were diligent and frugal, cultivated and studied, passed down family traditions, maintained family friendship, benevolent and accumulated virtues, and respected literature and education. The couplets in the ancestral hall are also the family rules and precepts of the Hakka people. They are a special textbook for the Chinese nation to help future generations and promote excellent family traditions.

Ancestral halls, also known as "ancestral temples" or "family temples" in the old days, were mostly built in tombs, so ancestral halls were called "ancestral halls". According to the "Book of Rites", only emperors, princes, and officials can set up their own ancestral temples to worship their ancestors. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that the court began to allow common people to build "family temples." Later, ancestral halls were mostly built in or near family settlements. Since there were not many clan members at first, they built ancestral halls in their houses. As clan members multiplied, ancestral halls and even branch shrines began to be built.

From the perspective of folklorists, ancestral halls "interpret the civilization of the times in their own way of existence." As the best-preserved ancient architectural group in China, the ancestral hall has left many precious historical and cultural research values ??to future generations. The merits and demerits of thousands of years can be seen in the ancestral hall; the genealogy of the Chinese ancestors can be known from the ancestral hall.

Our country is an ancient civilization, and its traditional culture is not only unique, but also has a long history. As an important part of local folk culture, ancestral temple culture began to sprout thousands of years ago in the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. It formed a relatively complete system in the Song Dynasty and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In a sense, the prosperity of the ancestral temple culture reflects the social stability and economic development of this historical period, and is a concrete manifestation of the political integrity, people's peace, and peace of the country and the people.

The author lives in southern Gansu, which is known as the "cradle of Hakkas". Due to work needs, I have come into contact with many ancestral halls with surnames in southern Gansu, as well as the couplets in the ancestral halls, and have made annotations for these various couplets. . For this reason, we plan to make a brief analysis of Hakka couplets to show the context of the cultural content of ancient ancestral temples.

Tracing back to the origin of the clan

Searching for roots and ancestors, blood is thicker than water, has always been a deep-rooted traditional concept of the Chinese nation; pursuing the future with caution has always been a complex that the Chinese people cannot shake off. This concept is fully reflected in the couplet. For example, the couplet of the Li family's ancestral hall in Wutongba, Quannan: "Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, I have recounted Boyang, and never forgotten my ancestors in countless scriptures; I have taken the victory of Taochuan in Nanling, shown my loyalty to the military, and built an ancestral hall that will shine in Zhongzhou."

Boyang, the word of Laozi. Lao Tzu, whose surname is Li and whose given name is Dan, may also be called Boyang. A native of Qurenli, Li Township, Ku County, Chu State, he lived approximately between 571 BC and 471 BC. He was a great philosopher and thinker in ancient my country and the founder of the Taoist school. He was considered the ancestor of the Li surname by the emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The first couplet records the long history of the Li family from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present, traces back to Lao Tzu, the founder of the Li surname, and expresses the memory of "never forgetting our ancestors". The second line focuses on the present and points out that the ancestral hall was built in the beautiful place of "Taochuan". Taochuan, also known as Taojiang River, originates from the eastern foot of Fanchizhang in Quannan County, flows through Dazhuang, Wutongba, Nanjing, Jinlong, Chengxiang and other towns, and merges into Huangtian River at the mouth of Shangjiang Township, and flows into Gongjiang River, a tributary of Ganjiang River. .

1. Prominent figures

There is a couplet engraved in the Su family's ancestral hall in Yingshao Village, Shangyou County: "Kunwu bestowed the surname, and the virtues of the ancestors of the Su Kingdom spread far and wide; the Duke of Heng established the foundation, and the Jiangnan clan branch "Long." The Shangyou Yingshao Su Family Ancestral Hall was built in Yingshao Village, Huangbu Town, east of Shangyou County. The first couplet highlights the fact that the ancestor Kunwu gave the surname. Kunwu: According to legend, the descendants of Zhuan Xiang and the Tongjian tribe of the Xia Dynasty were granted the title of Kunwu State (now east of Xuchang, Henan Province). They took the fiefdom as their surname and called it the Kunwu clan. The descendants of the Kunwu family were granted the title of Su (now in Jiyuan County and Wenxian County, Henan Province), and their descendants took the fiefdom as their surname and were called the Su family. The second couplet highlights the ancestor of Kaiji, Heng Gong, and expresses the family's pride in "the long lineage".

2. Prominent areas

"The Wuyuan school has a long history, and the articles are brilliant; the Jihong Xiang River, the water is surrounded by mountains and arches, and the power is high and the stone is reflected in the famous area." This is Huichang. Guanyin Pai Wang's ancestral hall in Mazhou Town, County. The first couplet states that the Wang clan opened Wuyuan County. Wuyuan is located in the northeast of Jiangxi Province (at the junction of Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces) and is one of the six counties in the original Huizhou. The second couplet writes about the Xiang River flowing through Guanyin Pai in Mazhou Town. People's migration is inseparable from their place of residence, and region reflects people's special sense of belonging to their homeland.

Another example is the couplet of Orange and Ruitang in Renliyuan in Longnanli: "The faction comes from Wenshui, with long tributaries; the branch rises from Liyuan, with deep roots." Wenshui, the Li family comes from Wenshui, Shanxi Wenshui County, 76 kilometers south of Taiyuan City, is the hometown of Wu Zetian, the empress of the Tang Dynasty.

Liyuan Wai was built in the Xinyou Year of Hongzhi (1501) by Li Qinggong, a fifth-rank official in the Ming Dynasty. It is the largest Hakka siege in Longnan County, and its shape is Bagua Wai. There is a fish pond in front of Juruitang with an area of ??6.6 acres, which reflects the Hakka people’s humanistic characteristics of diligent production, emphasis on culture and education, and development.

This couplet highlights the place names, one ancient and one modern, one far and one near, giving a clear overview of the ins and outs of the Li family in Liyuan.

Praise to the whole family

Couple of the Luo family ancestral hall in Luokou Town, Ningdu County: "Yuzhang Shize; Qiancheng family reputation." Yuzhang, now Nanchang, the ancestors of the Luo people came from the Xishan Mountain in Yuzhang . Qiancheng is Ningdu, and was called Qianhua County in ancient times. The couplet praises the influence of Luo's predecessors on descendants and the family's good reputation.

Another example is the couplet of the Luo family’s ancestral hall in Dabu Fuxi, Dongshanba, Ningdu County: “Famous family in etiquette; family of loyal ministers and filial sons.” The couplet praises the uniqueness of the family’s family from both academic and moral aspects. Ordinary means having the moral norms advocated by the ancients.

There is a couplet in the ancestral hall of Zhijian, Huang’s surname Jiangxia, in Beiguan, Shicheng County: “The unparalleled wealth of history is passed down to Jiangxia; the first family expressed its reputation in Yingchuan.” Jiangxia, a prestigious family with the surname Huang lives in Jiangxia County (now southeast of Yunmeng County, Hubei Province). Yingchuan refers to Yingchuan County, the birthplace of the Huang family, and also refers to Huang Ba of the Western Han Dynasty, who served as the prefect of Yingchuan. This couplet crowns the Huang family as "first" and "unparalleled", which is quite confident.

Remembering the merits and deeds of ancestors

It can be seen from the numerous couplets with surnames in ancestral halls that many of the contents described in the couplets are celebrities of the same surname throughout the ages, including great scholars, sages, civil servants and generals , hermit and filial son... The author mostly praises him in terms of his performance, morality, cultivation, knowledge, conduct and so on. Moreover, the couplets all have a unique characteristic, which is to commemorate the ancestor's virtues and flaunt the family's reputation, hoping that future generations will inherit the ancestral legacy and shine on the family lintel.

1. General statement

"The virtues of ancestors shine brightly on the sun and the moon; the merits of ancestors are passed down to the world and reflect the mountains and rivers." This is the couplet of the Xiao family and temple on Shijie, Laicun Town, Ningdu County. It has been more than ten generations since people surnamed Xiao moved here from the neighboring village. The couplet has only 14 words and uses exaggeration to praise the ancestors' virtues and achievements, which are reflected in the mountains and rivers, and are majestic.

This couplet has a clear point of view and only describes one thing about the ancestor's virtues and achievements, while some couplets take a different approach, integrating thinking about the past and writing about the present. For example, the couplet of the Shicheng Wen family's Chongxian Gong Temple: "Tracing back the merits of the ancestors, maintaining close ties and harmonious clans, the blessings are long-lasting, and the name will go down in history; it promotes the Chongxian's principles, literary scriptures and martial arts, wealth and prosperity, and a new chapter in achievements." The couplet traces back to the ancestors. While making meritorious deeds, we should not forget to inherit the legacy of our ancestors and create new achievements.

There is a couplet engraved in Lijiawu Ziyun Hall located on Qinjiang East Road in Shicheng County: "Longxi was born, and the tribes multiplied and thought of their ancestors' virtues; the east of the city was divided, and the humanities flourished. Mu Zongen." Praising the ancestors' virtues At the same time, we also traced the origin of our surname.

2. Praise one or more ancestors

The couplet of the Yueguo Gong Temple on West Street, Xingguo County: "The achievements of the Tang Dynasty are glorious, I worship the Prime Minister and grant me the title of Duke, and I am promoted to the right side of the Yangtze River." At the beginning of the ancestors, his virtuous reputation was announced to the Yue Kingdom, and a temple was built to offer sacrifices. Pingchuan established the foundation of his descendants. "The Yue Kingdom's public temple was built to worship Zhong Shaojing, a native of the city. Zhong Shaojing, with the courtesy name Keda, was born in Qingde Township, Xingguo, Tang Dynasty, and was a famous calligrapher in ancient China. During the reign of Zhongzong Jing, he served as the director of the palace. Empress Wei poisoned Zhongzong and formed a party to usurp the government. Linzi King Li Longji conspired with Shao Jing to quell the rebellion. Shao Jing led more than 200 palace craftsmen to the Taihe Palace to eliminate him. Empress Wei put an end to Wei's chaos in one fell swoop. Ruizhong worshiped Shao Jing as the Minister of Zhongshu and participated in government affairs. The next day, he was granted the title of Zhongshu Ling and Yue Guogong.

In the first year of Jingyun, he was changed to Shangshu of the Ministry of Household Affairs and appointed governor of Pengzhou. Xuanzong ascended the throne and was summoned again to pay homage to the Minister of Household Affairs. He died at the age of over eighty.

The couplet praises the great achievements of the ancestor Yue Guogong in quelling the chaos in the palace in one fell swoop and his ingenious plans are reflected in the annals of history. This is an example that highlights one of the ancestors.

There are also those who praise many people. For example, the couplet of the ancestral hall of the Xiao family in Huichang County: "Assisted by Pei Gong, he was granted the title of Marquis of Feng, and his reputation was traced back to the Han Dynasty; he was promoted to a general, and talents came out in large numbers as far back as Lanling." A native of Yangli, he was the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty. In his early years, he was the chief of the Pavilion of Sishui, Peixian County, and was later honored as Peigong and King of Han. The first couplet praises Xiao He in the Han Dynasty. Xiao He was given the title of Marquis Fou. During the conflict between Chu and Han, he assisted Emperor Gaozu, guarded the pass, and transferred canals to the army. The soldiers had no shortage of food, so they won the victory. When Emperor Gaozu came to the throne, he was awarded the first place in terms of merit and reward and was granted the title of Marquis of Fou. Taifu, that is, Xiao Wangzhi, the sixth grandson of Xiao He (about 114 BC to 47 BC), who served as the crown prince Taifu during the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty. He was a native of Lanling, Donghai (now Lanling Town, Lanling County, Shandong Province). Moved to Duling (now southeast of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province).

In the numerous ancestral couplets with surnames, it can be said that each surname will record the proud ancestors and integrate into the struggle history of each ancestor and celebrity of the clan; each couplet is a line. Thought-provoking mottos; every story is a touching blueprint of inspirational struggle.

Let’s give a few examples for the reader’s enjoyment.

For example, the ancestral couplet of the Yang family in Chenggang Township, Xingguo County reads: "The gentle breeze admires the four wise men, and the integrity brings gold; the honest officials make plans to bring glory to the world; the snow is three feet deep, the personal teacher respects Taoism, and he is a famous Confucian." Virtue and deeds shine brightly.”

Four Knowledges: Yang’s well-known “Four Knowledges Hall” comes from the story of Yang Zhen in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Yang Zhen, courtesy name Boqi, was born in Huayin County, Hongnong County (now southern Shaanxi) in the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was rarely eager to learn, but he was well versed in the classics and was known as "Kansai Confucius" at that time. He successively served as governor of Jingzhou and prefect of Zhuojun. "The Book of the Later Han·Yang Zhen Biography" records: "I was appointed as the prefect of Donglai (today's Laizhou City, Shandong), and the county I was in charge of. The road passed through Changyi, so I selected the most talented Wang Mi of Jingzhou as the order of Changyi and paid an audience. At night, I was pregnant with gold for ten years. Jin Yi Zhen said: "I know you, but you don't know me. Why?" Mi said: "You are ignorant in the evening." Zhen said: "Heaven knows, God knows, I know, I know, what is ignorance?" "The secret came out in shame. Later, he became the governor of Zhuo County. He was honest and did not accept private visits. His descendants often walked around without food. Therefore, the old elders may want to make him the descendants of innocent officials. He said: "Let future generations be called the descendants of innocent officials. This is a very generous legacy." After Yang Zhen took office in Donglai County, he wrote it himself. The two-character plaque "Four Knowledges" is hung in the court, as a bright mirror, always used to compare and spur oneself to become an honest official in history. This is Yang's "Four Knowledges Hall". Later, Yang Zhen's descendants served as public ministers for generations and became a prominent family in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

The white snow is three feet deep, which is the story of "Cheng Men stood up in the snow". Yang Shi (1053-1135 AD) was a famous Neo-Confucian scholar in the Song Dynasty. His ancestral home is Huayin, Hongnong (now Huayin East, Shaanxi Province), and a native of Longchi Tuan, Yongzhou, Nanjianxi (now Longchi Community, Guyong Town, Jiangle County, Fujian Province). He was a Jinshi in the ninth year of Xining. One year, on his way to Liuyang County, Yang Shi and his friends went to the home of his teacher Cheng Yi for advice. It was the middle of winter and the weather was freezing cold. Halfway through their journey, the wind was blowing fiercely. They wrapped their clothes tightly and hurried on. When I arrived at Cheng Yi's house, I happened to see my husband sitting by the stove, meditating and relaxing. Yang Shi and Yang Shi did not dare to disturb the teacher, so they stood respectfully outside the door, waiting for their husband to wake up. At this time, one of Yang Shi's feet was frozen and he was shivering from the cold, but he still stood respectfully. After a long time, Cheng Yi woke up and found Yang Shi standing in the wind and snow from the window. He saw that they were covered in snow, and the snow under their feet was more than a foot thick. He quickly got up and welcomed them into the house. Since then, the story of "Cheng Men Li Xue" has become an eternal story about respecting teachers and respecting morality.

The Prime Minister of Dongshan, namely Xie An (320 to 385 AD), named Anshi, was a famous scholar and prime minister in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Han nationality, and a native of Yangxia, Chenjun (now Taikang, Henan). He has an elegant and gentle temperament, is fair and decisive in dealing with matters, does not monopolize power for personal gain, does not take credit for himself and is arrogant, and has the demeanor of a prime minister and a Confucian general.

Look at the long couplet at the Huangzhijian Temple in Beiguan, Shicheng County: "The Qinshui is flowing, the uncle Du Zong's style, the clear cover thousands of hectares, twenty-one branches are distributed in China, Shao Wuzong The wind shakes the world; the immortal peaks stand still, and the legacy of Cigong gathers nine buds, and the eighteenth leaf blooms at the foot of the river. "Qinjiang Wenhanjia my family." The couplet not only praises the legacy of our ancestors, Shudu and Cigong. It also intersperses the story of their branches of the Huang family. "Twenty-one branches" and "eighteen leaves" refer to the eighty-year-old Shao Wu and the ancestor of the Huang family in the first year of Zhou Guangshun (951) after the Five Dynasties. He gathered all the twenty-one grandchildren, and then A major decision was announced in public: "The 800,000 copper coins and more than 800 gold and silver coins accumulated by the Huang family over the thousands of years since Chun Shenjun will be divided equally into 21 pieces, and three orders will be given. There are twenty-one grandchildren in the wife’s name, and each receives a share of the ancestral property. He immediately leaves his hometown, establishes a new business, and seeks development on his own.” Due to the weeping pleas of the three ladies at that time, Duke Qiao Shan had some hesitation in his original decision. Changed and re-announced: "Except for the three wives Guan, Wu, and Zheng, who each left their eldest son in a house to support their elderly mother as a sign of tenderness, the other eighteen sons and daughters are not allowed to love this homeland. They must each travel independently in the world and choose a tree. Then, Qiaoshan Gong divined the auspicious day for leaving home, and on this day he gave the twenty-one sets of the newly compiled "Huang Family Tree" to each of his twenty-one sons, and gave instructions. Let them carry it with them, store it properly, and never forget where they came from. Duke Qiaoshang's strategic vision in asking his children and grandchildren to separate the family and venture out into the world independently was praised by everyone.