"Ahem! Mister Li's eyes are as sharp as a torch, so I told you the truth! "
In the Yunshan residence, Li Zexuan coughed awkwardly before telling the truth. "I wanted to ask for a few words from Mister Li, but because I've been grounded at home by His Majesty, it's inconvenient for me to go out, so I had to ask Mister Li to come over!"
Li Gang was speechless. "Our residences are only a few steps away from each other. Even if you go out, do you think His Majesty will find trouble with you? Besides, there are no outsiders on Yunshan. Who would be so free as to inform His Majesty of such a small matter? "
Li Zexuan was sweating profusely. Who asked him to be 'well-meaning' by his father-in-law two days ago? Naturally, he would be a little more careful when doing things!
"Ahem! Since His Majesty wants me to stay at home and reflect, then I must be sincere! "
"Ha!"
Li Gang shook his head. He obviously didn't believe him, but he was too lazy to investigate further. At this time, he said, "In terms of calligraphy, I'm far inferior to Deng Shan (Chu Suiliang) and Bo Shi (Yu Shinan). Why would Yamachō come to me for help?"
"Haha! What I seek is Mister Li's artistic conception and also Mister Li's spirit. Mister Li has noble character and unquestionable integrity. I must hang Mister Li's calligraphy at home and study it at all times! "
Li Zexuan flattered.
In fact, this fellow wanted to take Li Gang's calligraphy and leave it as a family heirloom for future generations!
Although Li Gang's calligraphy wasn't as famous as Yu Shinan and Chu Suiliang's, Li Gang's fame wasn't any less than those two. Besides, he was now "grounded". How could he go out and ask Yu Shinan and Chu Suiliang to write for him? Sending someone to invite them to his residence wasn't realistic either. After all, their friendship wasn't that good yet!
"Haha! Yamachō, don't flatter me. What do you want me to write? Just tell me. When the time comes, don't complain that my calligraphy is ugly! "
Li Gang waved his hand and smiled helplessly.
Li Zexuan nodded at Xiao He. The latter turned around and left. Soon, she returned with two rows of red papers in her hands.
Li Zexuan said to Li Gang, "It's going to be the New Year soon. I want to hang two auspicious characters in front of the door to make it seem more festive. It's just that these characters are a little difficult to display, so I asked Mr. Li Gang to come and inscribe them!"
Li Gang frowned, "What are you going to inscribe on Yamachō?"
"I call this a couplet because it's going to be the New Year soon. It's also called Spring Festival couplets!"
"Couplet? Yamachō, tell me about it! "
It could not be said that there were no couplets in this era, but there was no such thing as a "couplet".
In fact, long before the Qin and Han Dynasties, people in our country had the custom of hanging peach talismans during the New Year. The so-called peach talisman was to write the names of the legendary exorcist gods "Shen Cha" and "Yu Lei" on two peach planks and hang them on the left and right doors to exorcise ghosts and suppress evil. This custom lasted for more than a thousand years. It was only in the fifth generation that people began to inscribe couplets on the peach planks.
According to the records of the Song Dynasty and the Shu Family, Meng Chang, the ruler of Shu in the fifth generation, "Every year, scholars were appointed to write poems and inscribe peach talismans on the left and right of the bedroom door. At the end of the year (964 AD), the scholar Xing Yinxun wrote poems. Chang used his non-professional skills to write poems and wrote: 'New Year's Celebration, Festival's Changchun.' "
This was the earliest form of couplets, and it was also the earliest Spring Festival couplets in our country.
After the Song Dynasty, it was quite common for people to hang Spring Festival couplets during the New Year. Wang Anshi's poem, "Thousands of families always exchange new peach talismans for old ones", was a true portrayal of the grand occasion at that time. Because the appearance of Spring Festival couplets was closely related to peach talismans, the ancients called them "Peach Talismans".
Therefore, when Li Gang heard the couplets and Spring Festival couplets, he was stunned!
Li Zexuan was already prepared, and he said without hesitation:
"The first part of the couplet is called 'Smooth Sailing, Happy Every Year'. The second part is called 'Everything Goes Well, Every Step Is High'. The horizontal inscription is: 'Lucky Star Shines High'!"
This couplet wasn't considered literary, but it stood out because it was festive. It was considered one of the more widespread Spring Festival couplets in modern times.
Li Gang heard this and squinted his eyes. After a moment of silence, he nodded and praised, "Although it doesn't have any novelty, it wins in that the couplet is neat and tidy. Furthermore, these two sentences can be considered appropriate for the occasion! But why do I feel that this couplet is similar to the peach talisman? "
"Peach talisman?"
Li Zexuan was stunned. Fortunately, he wasn't an ignorant person. After thinking for a while, he finally recalled the peach talisman in an ancient poem. Therefore, he nodded and said, "That's right, that's right! This is also called a peach talisman, but I feel that couplets are more suitable for it than peach talismans! "
Li Gang shook his head and didn't deny it. The old man placed the red paper on the table. Li Zexuan hurriedly asked Xiao He to grind the ink with the best pine smoke ink.
The Tang Dynasty was a period of rapid development of ink production technology. From the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the "ink balls" made of lacquer and pine coal were gradually popularized and finalized in the Tang Dynasty. Various solid ink ingots were made with pine smoke and glue, and the quality was getting better and better. Famous inks such as Zu Min, Li Yangbing, Xi Chao, Xi Tinggui, and other famous inks made by famous artists such as Zu Min, Li Yangbing, Xi Chao, and Xi Tinggui were all tributes to the imperial family.
Li Gang held the brush and concentrated. After a series of strokes, sixteen large characters suddenly appeared on the paper. Li Zexuan looked at it and realized that Li Gang's handwriting wasn't as bad as the old man said. It was different from Chu Suiliang's calligraphy, which was long and flat, and was also different from Yu Shinan's calligraphy, which was dignified and full of spirit. Li Gang's handwriting was as smooth as jade, graceful and elegant. Perhaps his handwriting was just like his character, a gentleman like jade!
"Good handwriting! Good handwriting! Xiao He, quickly send it to the workshop and let Faubert frame it with high-quality glass. This year, during the New Year, we will put this couplet in front of our house and pass it down for generations to come! "
Li Zexuan clapped his hands and laughed.
Speaking of which, even if his future descendants were to be prodigals, with just this couplet, they should be able to live without worries, right?
"Yes! Young Master! "
Xiao He responded. Then, she and Xiao Xi carefully dried the ink on the red paper and brought it to the workshop.
Li Gang couldn't help but laugh. He said helplessly, "Yamachō, don't joke around. In terms of calligraphy, I am far inferior to Dengshan and Boshi. I really don't understand why you want me to come and inscribe it!"
Li Zexuan waved his hand and retorted, "Mister, you are wrong. In terms of calligraphy, there is no such thing as good or bad. At most, each of them has their own merits! "
"Haha! In terms of speaking skills, Dengshan and Boshi are no match for you, Yamachō! "
Li Gang smiled and pointed at Li Zexuan.
Li Zexuan was helpless. He wasn't trying to flatter him just now. "Forget it, let's not talk about that anymore! Mister, please sit down and drink! "
"Mm! Now, I can finally relax and drink! Haha! "
Li Gang joked again.
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