On the Hungry Ghost Festival, the 15th day of the seventh lunar month in the first year of Longhe, at midnight on this day, Great Sima Huanwen presided over a ceremony at the Sanguan Temple in Bailu Mountain to worship the souls of the soldiers who had fallen in his expedition to Shu and the two Northern Expeditions. On this day, the Japanese military government would also give gifts to those soldiers
The families of fallen soldiers were compensated with money and silk. Huan Wen was not strict in running the army, but he was able to win the service of soldiers because he was good at soothing people's hearts. Huan Wen knew the importance of military power. The imperial court recruited him several times to assist the government, but he refused.
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Bai Ramie Mountain is located five miles northeast of Gushu City. There are thousands of pine trees on the mountain, which are lush and green. Ramie is planted all around the mountain. Ramie is a perennial herb. After harvesting, it shrinks to the ground and regenerates in the following spring. There is no need to plant it every year.
Ramie is famous in Jiangzuo. The top-grade linen made from it is pounded and pounded to become fine and white, just like a girl's skin. The fabric used in the four sets of summer shirts Lu Weirui sewed for Chen Caozhi was Ramie. After autumn, Ramie becomes
On both sides of the stream, the sound of thousands of households pounding clothes could be heard for ten miles in the quiet night——
The peasant woman and village girl entertained herself by making up songs and dances in the fields during her free time while gathering hemp and pounding clothes. The name was called Bailu Dance. In the Western Han Dynasty, it was adopted by the court musicians and adapted into a female musical dance. It has been passed down for hundreds of years. Huan Wen liked the Bailu Dance the most.
, every year after the sacrifice in the first year of the year, celebrities and staff are invited to watch the Bailu Dance at Bailu Mountain, and this year is no exception.
The day before, Du Jiong and Du Zigong, the Taoist leaders of Qiantang Celestial Masters, came to Gushu at the invitation of Huan Wen to preside over the birthday ceremony of the local official emperor on the Ghost Festival. Since Chen Caozhi and Du Zigong were fellow townsmen of Qiantang, Huan Wen ordered Chen Caozhi to go to Jiangkou Wharf.
Welcoming Du Zigong, Du Zigong came from Qiantang to Feng'an County, Dong'an County in February, where his son-in-law Sun Tai was. Later, at the invitation of Yangzhou's internal history king Shao, he went to Guangling to open a Taoist temple, which was deeply respected by believers.
Du Zigong went up the Yangtze River from Yangzhou and stayed in Jiankang for several days. Then he came to Gushu by water. When he saw Chen Caozhi, Du Zigong smiled and said, "My little friend Cao has been in the capital for half a year, and his reputation has spread all over the country.
As a fellow countryman, Du is honored." Du Zigong was in Yangzhou and knew very well about Chen Caozhi's affairs in Jiankang. Huan Wen's reliance on Chen Caozhi was also hotly discussed by the gentry in the north and south.
Chen Caozhi said humbly: "The false reputation makes Master Du laugh."
Du Zigong said: "Du has seen a lot of people. I have never seen anyone as noble as Cao Cao in the younger generation."
Du Zigong could tell whether people were good or bad, and his words of happiness, wealth and longevity came true like a god. Chen Caozhi hurriedly said: "Master Du, please do not say this to others. Otherwise, it will not be Cao's blessing."
Du Zigong smiled and said, "There is no need to tell me this. Du is not a talkative person."
Chen Cao said: "Da Sima Huan respects Master Du and will inevitably ask Master Du to see his salary and position. I hope Master Du will be careful in his words."
Du Zigong heard what Chen Cao was saying and wanted to ask more questions, but Chen Caozhi ignored him. Du Zigong felt wary. In ancient times, magicians who talked about people's misfortunes and blessings often suffered misfortunes themselves first. Du Zigong used to wander around
As a country party official, it is okay to talk about whether Xiuzan is noble or lowly. Now he will face Huan Wen, who holds the power of the military and state. Du Zigong must be careful with his words to avoid disaster.
After the sacrificial ceremony, Huan Wen, Du Zigong, Huan Shiqian, Zhou Chu, Yuan Hong, Xie Xuan, Chen Caozhi, and Xie Daoyun went out of Sanguan Temple to Siwang Pavilion to watch the white ramie dance.
Although the name of Siwang Pavilion is a pavilion, it is more than ten times larger than the ordinary hexagonal pavilion. It is open on all sides and can accommodate hundreds of people to enjoy the scenery and have a banquet. You can see the white rhododendron peaks, the rustling of thousands of pines, and the sudden cool breeze, which is refreshing and pleasant.
More than 20 dancers, wearing high buns and hairpins, wearing white ramie dance skirts that are as light as clouds and as silver as silver, are swaying under the pavilion. When they lift their big sleeves lightly, they look like white swans soaring, and their waists are swayed like white swans.
The weak willow is facing the wind, its gait is light, its eyes are bright, and it sings:
"The poem is spoken in the heart and the ambition is spoken, and the sound is formed by the silk thread of the article and quilt. When dancing and dancing, Wang Huaji changes the customs. The piano horn is swinging and the rhyme is white and the clouds are soothing. The consonant sound of "Xiao Shao" is coming, and the rhythm is chanted at the beginning, and the chapter is composed.
There is more love at the end of the day. We have the same culture and ethics, and the country and the people are harmonious and rituals are successful. The four county courts are filled with beautiful honors and heroes, and the eight ranks of emperors are singing noble voices. The dances are decorated with Lihua music and the work is done, and the Luo Shang reflects the sun and follows the wind.
.The golden greenery is brilliant, the musk deer is abundant, and the graceful posture is pleasing to the emperor—"
Huan Wen invited Du Zigong to sit with him at the table to watch the white ramie dance and sing the song. He watched and enjoyed it and asked Du Zigong: "Does Du Daoshou know who composed this song?"
When Du Zigong heard the lyrics, they seemed to be composed by an emperor. He didn't dare to guess and said, "I am ignorant and ignorant. I don't know who can compose this song."
Huan Wen smiled and said, "This is the Daya Song of Bai Ramu Dance written by Emperor Ming."
Du Zigong heard that this was a song composed by Sima Shao, Emperor Ming of Jin Dynasty. He sat upright and listened respectfully.
Huan Wen said with a smile: "Du Taoist leader does not need to be formal. Baimai sings and dances, encourages farmers and mulberry trees, and the emperor and the people enjoy together."
After three rounds of drinking, Huan Wen felt very excited and took Du Zigong's hand to the foot of the South Tower. He looked at the Gushu River and the vast expanse of fertile fields. Huan Wen slowly asked: "Du Taoist leader can know whether people are high or low, and the common people and scholars admire him.
Please ask Du Dao to take the first test for the position of Wen Yanlu. How far can he go?"
Du Zigong sweated coldly on his vest and thought to himself: "It has not been a hundred days since the mourning of the Emperor, but you are watching the palace singing and dancing. You are an official up to the Grand Sima, a fake yellow axe, the commander-in-chief of Chinese and foreign military affairs, and there is only one person below the emperor, but you still ask where your salary and position are?"
Do you want me to say that you have the destiny of an emperor? If things are revealed soon, our clan will be destroyed."
Du Zigong calmly looked at Huan Wen's appearance, his hedgehog beard and purple eyes, which were really different, and said: "Ming Gong has a distinguished reputation in the universe, and he is a highly respected minister."
Huan Wen was unhappy.
…
In the evening of that day, Chen Caozhi used jute paper in his study to copy the Ullambana Sutra translated by the eminent monk Zhu Fahu of the Western Jin Dynasty. Lai De made three lotus lanterns according to the shapes drawn by Chen Caozhi and prepared the bowls.
Lanterns are released during the Lantern Festival.
After dinner, Chen Caozhi took Ran Sheng, Lai Zhen, Lai De, Xiao Chan and Huang Xiaotong out to the south of the city. The neighbor's catkins saw him and asked: "Sister Xiao Chan, where are you going? Why didn't you call me up?"
My Mr. Xie Lang?"
Xiaochan said: "Today is the Bon Festival on July 15th. My old mistress believed in Buddhism when she was still alive, so my young man wants to chant sutras and light lanterns for her."
Liu Xu then asked Chen Caozhi: "Mr. Chen, can I let Mr. Xie go with you?"
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "What's wrong with this? I'll go first and ask Brother Yingtai to come after me. Go out of the south gate and go west along the river."
Neither Chen Caozhi nor Ran Sheng rode horses. They followed the ox cart driven by Lai Zhen on foot. They left the south gate of Gushu City in the dusk and walked westward for four or five miles along the south bank of the stream. They arrived at a deserted place with few people. Xie Daoyun
, sister and brother Xie Xuan also arrived later.
Xie Xuandao: "Zizhong, I just received a letter from the capital that Shaogong Yi passed away on the ninth day of this month."
Xie Daoyun said sadly: "Last month in Jiankang, I heard that Young Master Yi was seriously ill. Zizhong and I went with Shilang Xi to visit him, but Young Master Yi refused to see outsiders."
Chen Cao said: "Shaogong Yi once said, "You should die happily." Looking at his life, wandering in writing, indulging in the mountains and rivers, cultivating the heart and adapting his ambition, it should be said that he died happily."
Xie Xuandao: "My third uncle once told Yi Shaogong that since middle age, he has been saddened by joy and sorrow, separated from relatives and friends, and often committed evil for several days. Yi Shaogong said, 'I have been in Sangyu since I was a child. Naturally, I have been here for a long time. I have been relying on Sizhu for a while. Tao wrote, "I am always afraid that my children will wake up and ruin their joy." - Is this so-called love affair with my generation?"
A full moon rises in the eastern sky, huge and dim, hazy over the distant mountains and near trees, and the cool evening breeze of early autumn.
Chen Caozhi looked at the full moon in the sky and said: "I hope that we will live forever and share the beauty of the moon thousands of miles apart."
Xie Xuan praised: "What a wonderful saying. The bright moon shines thousands of miles away, and you can see it when you look up. Your close relatives may be able to relate to each other."
Xie Daoyun asked: "Zizhong is homesick?"
Chen Cao said: "I miss home, my sister-in-law, my two nieces and nephews, and my deceased parents and brother. Today I specially made three lotus lanterns and placed them under running water to send my condolences from afar."
The Xie family in Chen County was also a believer in Tianshi Dao, but they were not as obsessed with it as Wang Xizhi and his son. Moreover, the Buddhist Bon Festival had not yet become popular in Han Dynasty, so Xie Daoyun and Xie Xuan did not understand Chen Caozhi. Because of the lanterns, I watched Lai De strike the fire knife to light the tinder, and then light up the three lotus lanterns——
The three lotus lanterns are very delicately made by Laide's skillful hands. The base is made of a thin fir board that is easy to float, and the top is made of bamboo strips and colored paper to look like a blooming lotus. In the stamens is a five-inch long white candle.
Chen Caozhi stood by the stream and recited "The Buddha Speaks of the Ullambana Sutra" once, then placed three lotus lanterns on the Gushu stream, and then followed the three lotus lanterns on the river bank towards the river mouth. Chen Caozhi Take the Keting flute and play "Remembering Old Friends" and "Qinglian Song" that my mother loved most during her lifetime.
On that night in Chenjiawu three years ago, Xie Daoyun heard Chen Caozhi play these two pieces of music for his mother. He was deeply impressed. He thought of his mother Wang and his father Xie Yi who died young because of Chen's mother Li, and he couldn't help crying. The light shines brightly, looking at the three lotus lanterns swaying with the current, gradually getting farther and farther away——
The lotus lanterns fade away, but I hear the sound of elegy coming from afar, and a ethereal and beautiful female voice sings:
“It’s hard to meet again in the next year, and wealth will never come back again.
The good times suddenly pass, and the body becomes ashes.
The dark room with nine springs, the long night terrace.
The body exerts all its strength, and the soul exerts all its strength.
The fine food is not served well, and the wine is intended to fill the cup.
When I left Kuang and looked at my hometown, I saw wormwood and grass——"
This is the "Seven Elegies" written by Ruan Yu, the father of Ruan Ji and one of the seven sons of Jian'an. It is a widely circulated elegy. Jin people attach great importance to elegy. They sing it not only at funerals but also at banquets and gatherings. Yuan Dan's brother Yuan Dan Whenever Song went on a trip, he would often make his left and right people sing elegy songs, which would make those who heard them shed tears. Compared with Liu Ling who traveled with wine and buried me when he died, singing elegy has the beauty of pathos unique to Jin people.
"The dew on the sedge is so beautiful. The dew will fall again in the Ming Dynasty. When will you return when life is gone?" Yes, when will you return when life is gone -
Chen Caozhi, Xie Daoyun, and Xie Xuan all stopped and listened quietly to the sad and beautiful elegy from far to near. They saw a group of people walking slowly in the light of the fire. Among the crowd was a woman in white clothes. While singing, he scattered paper money, and his followers continued to burn the paper money, leaving firelight everywhere.
When they got closer, Chen Caozhi and others saw clearly that the woman in white was Li Jingshu. Li Jingshu was wearing a white skirt and was slim. She was walking and singing. Her singing voice was melancholy and she walked past Chen Caozhi and others as if there was no one else around.
At this moment, the surly and rebellious Li Jingshu had a tragic beauty that was separate from her beauty.
