Only state officials are allowed to set fire, and people are not allowed to light lamps

Only state officials are allowed to set fire, and people are not allowed to light lamps

Only state officials are allowed to set fire, and people are not allowed to light lamps (zh ǐ x ǔ zh ō ugu ā NF à nghu ǒ, B ù x ǔ B ǎ IX ì ngdi ǎ nd ē ng), which literally means that officials are allowed to set fire and do mischief, and people are not allowed to light lamps. It means that powerful people can do mischief themselves, but people's legitimate activities are also limited. It comes from Volume 5 of notes on laoxue'an written by Lu You in Song Dynasty: "Tiandeng was a county, and it was taboo about its name. Those who touched it would be angry, and most of the officials and soldiers were denounced. Therefore, all States call the lamp fire. In the Yuan Dynasty, people were allowed to go to the prefecture for sightseeing. The officials then published a list in the city, saying, "this prefecture is set on fire for three days according to the law."

Later, he described that the rulers could do whatever they wanted and act recklessly, but the people's just words and deeds were restricted. It also refers to doing things at will. On the contrary, it strictly demands or forbids others to have legitimate rights.

For example, "but you" only allow the state officials to set fire, and do not allow the people to light the lights. ". If we occasionally say a word of hindrance, you will say bad luck. " ——A dream of Red Mansions by Cao Xueqin in the Qing Dynasty

allusion

In the Northern Song Dynasty, the prefect of Changzhou was named Tian Deng. He was autocratic and arrogant. Because there was a word "Deng" in his name, the people in Changzhou were not allowed to say any word with the same pronunciation as "Deng" in their conversation. Therefore, as long as it is homonymous with the word "Deng", other words should be used instead. If anyone violates this taboo, he will be charged with "insulting the magistrate", or sentenced in the worst case, or punished in the worst case. Many officials were flogged because of the homonym of "Deng". the annual Lantern Festival is coming. According to the past practice, the state city has three days of fireworks and three days of lanterns to celebrate. The Yamen of the state government should post a notice in advance to let the people come to watch the lights at that time. This time, however, the official who gave the notice was in a dilemma. How to write it? If we use the word "Deng", we should offend the Taishou; if we don't use the word "Deng", we can't understand the meaning. After thinking for a long time, the little official who wrote the notice could only change the word "lamp" into the word "fire". In this way, the notice said, "this state is set on fire for three days according to law.". After the notice was posted, the common people were shocked and noisy. In particular, some guests from other places are even more confused. They really think that the government will set fire in the city for three days! Everyone packed their bags and left this land of right and wrong. The local people are very dissatisfied with Tian Deng's despotism and irrationality at ordinary times. This time, after reading the notice posted by the government, they are even more indignant and say angrily, "only the state officials are allowed to set fire, and the people are not allowed to light lamps. What kind of world is this?"

original text

Tiandeng as a county, taboo its name, touch will be angry, officials and soldiers were flay. Therefore, all States call the lamp fire. In Shangyuan Dynasty, people were allowed to visit the state. The official then published the list in the city and said, "this prefecture will set fire for three days according to the law." Therefore, the saying goes: "only the state officials are allowed to set fire, and the people are not allowed to light lamps." This is it. Notes on laoxuean by Lu You

notes

1. Tian Deng: from the Song Dynasty. To be a county: to be the governor of a state. 3. Taboo: Taboo: in order to maintain the dignity of the hierarchy system in the feudal era, that is, when speaking and writing articles, the name of the monarch or respected relatives is not directly said or written to show respect. "Self taboo": that is, no one is allowed to say his name. Flay: beating with sticks and bamboo boards. Shangyuan: the 15th day of the first month is the Lantern Festival. 6: Lighting: hanging colored lights. 7. State Administration: the location of the state capital. Billboard: Notice. 9. Announcement. Xu: Yes. Cloud: say.

translation

When Tian Deng was a state official, he stipulated that he should avoid his name. Whoever mistakenly made his name would be angry, and most of the officials and soldiers would be punished for it. So people have to call "lamp" fire. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, lanterns were set up to allow people to watch in the city. Officials and soldiers wrote notices and published them on the market: "according to the Convention, this prefecture will set fire for three days." So he said, "only state officials are allowed to set fire, and people are not allowed to light lamps." That's where it comes from.

enlightenment

This paper, through a taboo story, mocks the contemporary rulers who trample on the rights and interests of the people, and reveals their ugly faces incisively and vividly.