古谣谚及英译

卷一

帝舜歌

尚书益稷

敕天之命。惟时惟几。

股肱喜哉。元首起哉。百工熙哉。

A kind of " State of the Union" address which describes how everything is going well.

嗥陶赓歌

尚书益稷

元首明哉。股肱良哉。庶事康哉。

元首业脞哉。股肱惰哉。万事堕哉。

If the head of the state is exemplary and his officials are competent, all things will go well. If the head of the state will worry about minute details, his officials will be lazy, and all things will go bad.

卿云歌

尚书大传

卿云烂兮。纠缦缦兮。日月光华。旦复旦兮。

We celebrate the bright clouds that are gathering and are yielding a peaceful atmosphere. We enjoy the brightness of sun and moon light day after day.

八伯歌

尚书大传

明明上天。烂然星辰。日月光华。宏于一人。

The sky and the stars are both bright. The brightness of the sun light and moon light is increased by one person.

帝载歌

尚书大传

日月有常。星辰有行。四时顺经。万姓允诚。于予论乐。

配天之灵。迁于贤善。莫不咸听。鼚乎鼓之。轩乎舞之。

菁华已竭。褰裳去之。

A song sung by the emperor in which it says that everything is going well in the nation.

夏人歌

尚书大传

盍归乎薄。盍归乎薄。薄亦大矣。

Why do we not go back to Buo? It is a big place, is it not?

伊尹歌

尚书大传

觉兮较兮。吾大命假兮。去不善而就善﹑何乐兮。

I am someone who tells prophecies and is decent. Jie's (the tyrant of the time) life has come to an end. Leaving the bad to serve the good, is it not joyful?

麦秀歌

尚书大传

麦秀蔪兮。黍禾蝇蝇。彼狡童兮。不我好仇。

The wheat sprouts are coming up and the corn leaves look shiny. That sly boy (referring to one king) will not be on good terms with me.

陆玑引俚语释荷

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

苦如薏。

It is as bitter as the heart of a lotus seed.

陆玑引里语释檀

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

斫檀不谛。得系迷。系迷尚可。得驳马。

Try to cut down sandal wood tree and not get it, and get Xi Mi (name of plant) instead. It is bearable to get Xi Mi and yet we get Buo Ma (name of plant) instead.

陆玑引齐人谚释系迷

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

上山斫檀。挈榼先殚。

When we go up the mountain to log sandal wood trees, we see that Qi He (name of plant, same as Xi Mi) runs out first.

陆玑引上党妇人语释楛

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

灶下自有黄土。山中自有楛。

Naturally, there is yellow dirt underneath the hearth. And naturally there are Hu trees up in the mountain.

陆玑引俗语释棠

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

涩如杜。

It is as bitter as Du (name of fruit).

陆玑引林虑山下人语释麃鷮

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

四足之美有麃。两足之美有鷮。

Among the four-legged animals that are delectable, there are Paos. Among the two-legged, there are Qiaos.

陆玑引里语释黄鸟

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

黄栗留。看我麦黄葚熟。

Huang Li Liu (name of fowl) comes out when our wheat field turns golden and mulberries ripen.

陆玑引俗语释桃虫

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

鹪鹩生雕。

Jiao Liao (name of bird, as is Tao Chong) gives birth to Diao (name of bird).

陆玑引辽东乡语释鲂

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

居就粮。梁水鲂。

Ordinary days we have grains, yet at Liang River, there are tasty fish such as Fang.

陆玑引里语释鱮

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

网鱼得鱮。不如啖茹。

When one fishes with a net, if one gets Xu (name of fish), one will be better off eating vegetable than that kind of fish.

陆玑引里语释蟋蟀

毛诗草木虫鱼疏

趋织鸣。懒妇惊。

Qu Zhi (other name for crickets) calls and lazy housewives (lan fu literally, yet lan fu is also name for crickets) get shocked (as though the calls of crickets is telling these lazy women to do things).

孔子述河上人歌

韩诗内传

鸧兮鸹兮。逆毛衰兮。一身九尾长兮。

The bird Cang Gua has nine tails and feathers that curl inwards.

夏桀群臣歌二则

韩诗外传

江水沛兮。舟楫败兮。我王废兮。趣归于毫。毫亦大矣。

乐兮乐兮。四牡骄兮。六辔沃兮。去不善而从善。何不乐兮。

A song sung by a group of civil servants serving in the courtof Jie. It describes how happy they are to be leaving that tyrant.

韩婴引鄙语二则释诗

韩诗外传

不知为吏。视已成事。

前车覆而后车不诫。

If one does not know how to be a government official, one should try to see what has been done previously. A car turns upside down and the cars behind do not heed the incident as a warning.

孔子歌

诗纬

远山十里。蟪蛄之声。犹尚在耳。

We are away from the mountain for about ten Lis (Li=unit of distance), The sound of Cong Gu (name of insect, maybe dragonflies) can still be heard.

擿雒谣

诗纬

剡者配姬以放贤。山崩水溃纳小人。家伯罔主异哉震。

A song describing how taking beautiful women as mistresses can chase away the good advisors, just like a land slide and flooding can give bad people opportunity for mischief.

曳杖歌

礼记檀弓

泰山其颓乎 梁木其坏乎 哲人其萎乎

The sacred mountain Tai is falling, a great tree is falling and a saint is dying.

登木歌

礼记檀弓

狸首之斑然。执女手之卷然。

The head of a cat is spotted. The woman's hands are made into a fist.

成人歌

礼记檀弓

蚕则绩而蟹有匡。范则冠而蝉有緌。兄则死而子皋为之衰。

A song describing how things do not happen without the assistance of others.

子思引南人言

礼记缁衣

人而无恒。不可以为卜筮。

Nothing is settled permanently about a person; it is also not a good idea to resort to tossing coins.

记者引谚

礼记大学

人莫知其子之恶。莫知其苗之硕。

People do not know how bad their own children are and do not know how well their crops are growing.

郑康成引俗语

礼记曲礼上

隐疾﹑难为医。

It is hard for a doctor to treat a disease that is not exposed on the skin surface and is covered under clothing.

卷二

郑庄公赋

春秋左氏隐元年传

大隧之中。其乐也融融。

Inside the tunnel, the situation was happy (for the meeting between a mother and her son, the king whom she did not love, after treacherous period).

郑武姜赋

春秋左氏隐元年传

大隧之外。其乐也泄泄。

Outside the tunnel, the situation was also happy (for the mother).

羽父引周谚

春秋左氏隐十一年传

山有木﹑工则度之。宾有礼﹑主则择之。

A carpenter can only see the use of wood when there are trees in the mountain. A host can only select appropriate etiquette only when the guests have good manners.

虞叔引周谚

春秋左氏桓七年传

匹夫无罪。怀璧其罪。

The man himself does not have any faults. He has faults only because he has a piece of jade which is not apparent to untrained eyes.

士蒍引谚

春秋左氏闵元年传

心苟无瑕。何恤乎无家。

If one does not have any flaws inside his heart, why does he worry about not having a home?

士蒍赋

春秋左氏僖五年传

狐裘尨茸。 一国三公。吾谁适从。

The fox fur looks mangy. When there are three leaders to look up to, who exactly should I follow?

宫之奇引谚

春秋左氏僖五年传

辅车相依。唇亡齿寒。

The cheek and the gum depend on each other. When one loses one's lips, one's exposed teeth will feel the coldness.

卜偃引童谣

春秋左氏僖五年传

丙之辰。龙尾伏辰。均服振振。

取虢之旗。鹑之贲贲。天策焞焞。火中成车。虢公其奔。

A folk song describing how one kingdom's military became victorious with the light of torches. The king of Guo was forced to flee after his country was defeated.

孔叔引谚

春秋左氏僖五年传

心则不竞。何惮于病。

When one's heart is not strong, why is one not afraid of insults?

晋与人诵

春秋左氏僖二十八年传

原田每每。

The field is green, it is time to take out old roots and plant new seeds.

乐豫引谚

春秋左氏文七年传

庇焉而纵寻斧焉。

The leaves and branches are good as awnings, why allow them to be pruned with axes? This slang refers to how the aristocrats should not be eliminated as they are like branches of trees.

宋城者讴

春秋左氏宣二年传

睅其目。皤其腹。弃甲而复。于思于思。弃甲复来。

Having their eyes wide open and their bellies protruding, abandoning their armored suits, these people with beards are returning home after abandoning their armored suits.

华元骖乘答讴

春秋左氏宣二年传

牛则有皮。犀兕尚多。弃甲则那。

When there are cows, there is leather. There are plenty of cows around. What is the problem with abandoning armored suits?

役人又讴

春秋左氏宣二年传

从其有皮。丹漆若何。

You may have plenty of leather, yet you do not have red paint to paint them with.

子文引谚

春秋左氏宣四年传

狼子野心。

That baby is like a wolf pup with a beastly mind.

伯宗引谚

春秋左氏宣十五年传

高下在心。川泽纳污。山薮藏疾。瑾瑜匿瑕。国君含垢。

If one has a flexible attitude, one knows how to deal with changing situations, just as rivers and streams can take in filthy water, and a king taking a little insult.

羊舌职引谚

春秋左氏宣十六年传

民之多幸。国之不幸也。

When the citizens are taking chances, it is a misfortune for the country.

声伯梦歌

春秋左氏成十七年传

济洹之水。赠我以琼瑰。归乎归乎。琼瑰盈吾怀乎。

When Sheng Buo Meng was crossing the Heng River, he gave me some jade and pearls. When I was going home, I filled my chest with all these gifts.

鲁国人诵

春秋左氏襄四年传

臧之狐裘。败我于狐骀。我君小子。朱儒是使。朱儒朱儒。

使我败于邾。

Zang was wearing fur when we were defeated at Hu Tai. Our king was a child and he sent a midget to be our general. It was that very midget Zang who caused our defeat by Zhu.

宋筑者讴

春秋左氏襄十七年传

泽门之皙。实兴我役。邑中之黔。实慰我心。

Those fair-skinned people living in the Ze Men district ordered us to contribute our labor. Only the dark-skinned people living in downtown were able to soothe our hearts.

郑与人诵

春秋左氏襄三十年传

取我衣冠而褚之。取我田畴而伍之。孰杀子产。吾其与之。

Zi Chan confiscated my clothes and put them away, took away my fields and measured them. Whoever is assassinating him, I will come to the assistance.

郑舆人又诵

春秋左氏襄三十年传

我有子弟。子产诲之。我有田畴。子产殖之。子产而死。

谁其嗣之。

When I have children, Zi Chan educates them. When I have fields, Zi Chan cultivates them. When Zi Chan goes, who can succeed him?

刘定公引谚

春秋左氏昭元年传

老将至而耄及之。

When one approaches old age, one's mind becomes confused.

晏子引谚

春秋左氏昭三年传

非宅是卜。唯邻是卜。

One should judge a house not only on its own merit, on its neighbors as well.

子产引谚

春秋左氏昭七年传

蕞尔国。而三世执其政柄。

It is a very small country, but its ruler has been able to maintain its sovereignty for three generations.

晋侯投壶词

春秋左氏昭十二年传

有酒如淮。有肉如坻。寡君中此。为诸侯师。

There is as much alcohol as water in the Hui River. There are piles of meat in that alcohol like a land mass in a river. Whoever gets his wine bottles into the goal is the foremost of all kings.

齐侯投壶词

春秋左氏昭十二年传

有酒如渑。有肉如陵。寡人中此。与君代兴。

There is as much alcohol as in a body of water, there are piles of meat as much as a hill. When I hit the goal with my bottle, I will replace the emperor and make the world a better place.

南蒯乡人言

春秋左氏昭十二年传

恤恤乎。湫乎攸乎。深思而浅谋。迩身而远志。家臣而君图。

有人矣哉。

I am worried because there are people who are very thorough with their thinking and superficial with their purposes. They keep it all inside yet have a very far-reaching desire. They are subordinates hoping to take over their king's position.

南蒯乡人歌

春秋左氏昭十二年传

我有圃﹑生之杞乎。从我者子乎。去我者鄙乎。

倍其邻者耻乎。已乎已乎。非吾党之士乎。

I have a garden but only the herb Gou Qi is growing there. Men who follow my lead are great, and people who betray me are scoundrels. People who betray their own loved ones are shameful.

子服惠伯引谚

春秋左氏昭十三年传

臣一主二。

There is only one subordinate, but there are two superiors.

子产引谚

春秋左氏昭十九年传

无过乱门。

One should not pass by a door behind which the entire household is experiencing a strife.

子瑕引谚

春秋左氏昭十九年传

室于怒﹑市于色。

Not only did his anger break out at home, he also displayed it even in the streets.

鸲鹆谣

春秋左氏昭二十五年传

鸲之鹆之。公出辱之。鸲鹆之羽。公在外野。往馈之马。

鸲鹆跦跦。公在干侯。征褰与襦。鸲鹆之巢。远哉遥遥。

稠父丧劳。宋父以骄。鸲鹆鸲鹆。往歌来哭。

A folk song describing how a king operated and fell to death in accordance with the calling cycle of the Qu and Yu birds (some kind of parrots). The birds when the king went away for a mission and cried when the king's dead body came back.

公子光引上国言

春秋左氏昭二十七年传

不索﹑何获。

If one does not search for things, how will he ever find anything?

魏子引谚

春秋左氏昭二十八年传

唯食忘忧。

Only food can make one forget worries.

宋野人歌

春秋左氏定公十四年传

既定尔娄猪。盍归吾艾豭。

As our hog has satisfied your sow, why are you not returning him to us?

戏阳速引谚

春秋左氏定公十四年传

民保于信。

The general population protect themselves by keeping promises.

莱人歌

春秋左氏哀五年传

景公死乎不与埋。三军之师乎不与谋。师乎师乎。何党之乎。

The King Jing was dead and none of his sons participated in the burial. Neither did these sons participate in the military affairs of the kingdom. These people, where could they have gone to?

申叔仪歌

春秋左氏哀十三年传

佩玉繠兮。余无所系之。旨酒一盛兮。余与褐之父睨之。

I can not use my jade belt as I have no clothes on. Holding an empty wine cup, a poor old man and I can only look at it without drinking from it.

卫侯梦浑良夫噪

春秋左氏哀十七年传

登此昆吾之虚。绵绵生之瓜。余为浑良夫。叫天无辜。

I dreamt of going up a Taoist temple and saw vines of bitter gourds spreading all over the place. In that dream, I was a man named Hun Liang Fu and I was shouting to the sky: "I am innocent."

齐人歌

春秋左氏哀二十一年传

鲁人之皋。数年不觉。使我高蹈。唯其儒书。以为二国忧。

The offenses of the Lu people were not ameliorated for years, and we were so mad as to jump up and down. The Lu people were blindly following their Confucius books and thus created problems for the two kingdoms Qi and Zhu.

时人为龙门之战谣

春秋纬

五侯之斗血成江。

The fighting among the five kings was so fierce that it flooded the river with blood.

孔子引南人言

论语子路篇

人而无恒。不可以作巫医。

A person with no stable character should not be a shaman.

楚狂接舆歌

论语微子篇

凤兮凤兮。何德之衰。往者不可谏。来者犹可追。

已而已而。今之从政者殆而。

Phoenix and phoenix ! Why is your morality going down ? No one can give advise for the past, yet one can give timely advise for the future. Give it up! Nowadays, it is dangerous to be politicians.

五老游河歌

论语纬

河图将来告帝期。河图将来告帝谋。河图将来告帝书。

河图将来告帝图。河图将来告帝符。

A song describing how five soothsayers managed to convince the emperor Yao to bestow his throne on Shun.

殷末玉马谣

论语纬

殷惑妲己玉马走。

The king of Yin was infatuated with the lady Da Ji and all of his good advisors went away.

时人为孔氏兄弟语

论语纬

鲁国孔氏好读经。兄弟讲诵皆可听。

学士来者有声名。不过孔氏那得成。

A passage about how the Kong (Confucius's) household of Lu kingdom contained knowledgeable and outstanding scholars.

泣麟歌

论语纬

唐虞之世麟凤游。今非其时来何由。麟兮麟兮我心忧。

At the time of Tang Yu, the animals Lin and phoenix were roaming around. It is no longer that time. Why is Lin showing up? I am worried about its appearance.

晏子引夏谚

孟子梁惠王篇下

吾王不游。吾何以休。吾王不豫。吾何以助。

一游一豫。为诸侯度。

If our emperor does not travel around, how will we ever take a rest? If our emperor does not travel, how will we ever get any assistance? Trips like that are models for the kings.

孟子引齐人言

孟子公孙丑篇

虽有智能。不如乘势。虽有镃基。不如待时。

It is better to have opportunities than to have wisdom. It is better to have the right timing than to have the right tools.

孔子听孺子歌

孟子离娄篇上

沧浪之水清兮。可以濯我缨。沧浪之水浊兮。可以濯我足。

When the water of Cang Lang is clear, it can be used to wash my hat. When its water is muddy, it can be used to wash my feet.

赵岐引谚

孟子章指

白沙在涅。不染自黑。蓬生痲中。不扶自直。

When white sand is mixed with mud, its color automatically turns black. When the grass Peng is grown amongst hemp, it automatically grows vertically.

蜀人汶山谣

河图纬

汶阜之山。江出其腹。帝以会昌。神以建福。

The mountain in Wen Fu (place name) has a river running through it. This place is supposed to be a good place.

孔子述洞庭童谣

河图纬

吴王出游观震湖。龙威丈人名隐居。

北上包山入灵墟。乃造洞庭窃禹书。

天帝大文不可舒。此文长传六百初。

今强取出丧国庐。

A folk song describing how uncovering some ancient documents from a cave in Lake Dong Ting had caused the king of Wu to lose his kingdom.

卷三

杨慎引俗谚释三拖鞶带

升庵经说

宠婢作管家。钥匙不响手拨刺。

A description of how it is a bad idea to spoil the maid to the extent that she dominates the entire household.

杨慎引俗谚释密云不雨

升庵经说

云往东。一场空。云往西。马溅泥。

云往南。水潭潭。云往北。好晒麦。

Describing how the direction of the movements of clouds affects rain.

杨慎引童子歌谣释绿竹

升庵经说

鸡冠花。菉蓐草。

Ji Guan flower (the flower that looks like a rooster's comb), and Lu Ru grass.

杨慎引谚释硕人之薖

升庵经说

心安茅屋隐。

When one's heart is at peace, so is one's thatch-roofed house.

杨慎引俗谚释禨羞

升庵经说

饥梳头。饱洗澡。

Comb your hair when you are hungry, take a bath when you are full.

杨慎引谚释化土

升庵经说

晴则如刀。雨则如膏。

A certain kind of mud is sharp like knife when the sky is clear and soft like ointment when it is raining.

蘻草谚

尔雅旧注

苦如蘻

Bitter as Xi grass.

刘熙引里语释瑱

释名

不瘖不聋。不成姑公。

If one is not deaf and dumb yet, one is not a mother-in-law or father-in-law to a woman.

颜师古引谚

匡谬正俗

贼无历底中道回。

If bandits do not have an insider to help out, they will turn back half way.

陆佃引俗语释龙

埤雅

龙精于目。

The sharpest organs of a dragon are its eyes.

陆佃又引俗语释鲨

埤雅

鲨性沙抱。

The nature of the fish Sha is to hug sand.

陆佃又引俗语释虎

埤雅

鸠食桑葚则醉。猫食荷则醉。虎食狗则醉。

The bird Jiou gets intoxicated by eating mulberries, cats get intoxicated by eating mints, and tigers get intoxicated by eating dogs.

陆佃又引俗语二则释豺

埤雅

豺群噬虎。

瘦如豺。

The animal Cai can eat tigers as a group.

陆佃又引里语释狼

埤雅

狼卜食。

Wolves choose the right direction to go for hunting for their food.

陆佃又引世语释猫

埤雅

薄荷醉猫。死猫引竹。

Mints intoxicate cats and dead cats in turn induce the growth of bamboo.

陆佃又引俗语释熊罴

埤雅

熊罴眼直。恶人横目。

The bears look straight ahead and evil people look to the side.

陆佃又引世语二则释乌

埤雅

鸳交颈而感。乌传涎而孕。

鹊传枝。鸦茹沫。

A female Mandarin duck gets impregnated by crossing its neck to a male duck and a crow gets impregnated by catching saliva. The bird Qui gets impregnated by being attached to some twigs of trees and the bird Ya by eating saliva.

陆佃又引人语释鸠

埤雅

天将雨。鸠逐妇。

When it is about to rain, the male Jiu birds chase away the females.

陆佃又引谚释鹭

埤雅

鹭鸶相逐成胎。

Herons get impregnated after the chase.

陆佃又引闽谚释鸨

埤雅

鸨无舌。兔无脾。

The bird Bao does not have a tongue and rabbits do not have spleens.

陆佃又引俗语释蚊

埤雅

蚊有昏市。

Mosquitoes open their market at dusk.

陆佃又引谚二则释桃

埤雅

白头种桃。

桃三李四。梅子十二。

One can plant a peach tree and get fruit even if one is old with gray hair. It takes three years for peach trees to bear fruit, four years for the kind of plum tree called Li and twelve years for the kind of plum tree called Mei.

陆佃又引俗语释梅

埤雅

梅华优于香。桃华优于色。

Plum flowers are superior in fragrance, but peach flowers are superior in color.

陆佃又引谚释木瓜

埤雅

梨百损一益。楙百益一损。

There is only one benefit and hundreds of bad effects from eating pears. But eating Mao has hundreds of benefits and just one bad effect.

陆佃又引俗语释芡

埤雅

荷华日舒夜敛。芡华昼合宵炕。

Lotus flowers bloom during the day and close at night, but Qian flowers close during the day and bloom fiercely at night.

陆佃又引俗语释藕

埤雅

藕生应月。月生一节。闰辄益一。

Lotus roots grow all year round. Every month, the grow another section, and during intercalary months, they get even more time to grow.

嵇含引谚论虿

尔雅翼

过满百。为虿所螫。

I have over a hundred faults and therefore get bit by Chai (a kind of poisonous insect related to scorpion)

罗愿引谚论河豚

尔雅翼

得一部。典一裤。

If one wants to buy three globe fish, one has to sell a pair of pants.

罗愿又引谚论鲶

尔雅翼

鲶鱼上竹。

The fish Zhan climbs up on bamboo shrubs.

罗愿又引谚论蟹

尔雅翼

网中得蟹。无鱼可卖。

If one catches only crabs in the net, then there are no fish to sell.

罗愿又引谚论蛇

尔雅翼

一亩之地。三蛇九鼠。

An acre of land contains three snakes and nine ground hogs.

越人土风歌

说文长笺

其山崔巍以嵯峨。其水溢沓而扬波。其人砢而英多。

That mountain is very tall and that water so deep that waves form. That person is gifted with so many good qualities.

池鱼谚

广韵

城门失火。殃及池鱼。

There was a fire in the city gate area. As the water from the fish pond was used to put out the fire, the fish died from lack of water.

时人为应曜语

广韵

商山四皓。不如淮阳一老。

The four intelligent people in Shang mountain are not as good as that old man in Hui Yang.

杨慎引蜀童谣释鴃

转注古音略

阳雀叫。鹈鴃央。

The bird Yang Chui's call is like shouting, the bird Ti Gui's call sounds peaceful.

卷四

贾生引野谚

史记秦始皇本纪赞

前事之不忘。后事之师也。

If one does not forget one's previous experience, one can learn for the future from the past.

垓下歌

史记项羽本纪

力拔山兮气盖世。时不利兮骓不逝。骓不逝兮可奈何。

虞兮虞兮奈若何。

My muscles are strong enough to shake an entire mountainand my clouts reach the whole world. Yet time is not with me. Although my horse will never run away, there is still nothing that can change my bad luck. Mybeautiful woman Yu, there is nothing I can do to change the circumstances.

大风歌

史记高祖本纪

大风起兮云飞扬。威加海内兮归故乡。安得猛士兮守四方。

The wind blows fiercely and the clouds seem to fly. My power has spread through the entire nation and I am returning to my home town. How shall I get good military personnel to guard my territory in the fourdirections?

赵王友歌

史记吕后本纪

诸吕用事兮刘氏危。迫胁王侯兮疆授我妃。我妃既妒兮诬我

以恶。谗女乱国兮上曾不寤。我无忠臣兮何故弃国。自决中

野兮苍天举直。于嗟不可悔兮宁早自贼。为王而饿死兮谁者

怜之。吕氏绝理兮托天报雠。

A song sung by Prince of Chao who had to marry the queen's nieces under pressure. He wascharged with treason because of these girls' report to the queen. These girls reported him onlybecause he did not love them. The prince was executed by starvation.

瓠子歌

史记河渠书

瓠子决兮将奈何。皓皓旴旴兮闾殚为河。殚为河兮地不得宁。

功无义时兮吾山平。吾山平兮钜野溢。鱼沸郁兮柏冬日。

延道弛兮离常流。蛟龙骋兮方远游。归旧川兮神哉沛。

不封禅兮安知外。为我谓河伯兮何不仁。泛滥不止兮愁吾人。

啮桑浮兮淮泗满。久不反兮水维缓。河汤汤兮激潺湲。

北迂渡兮浚流难。搴长茭兮沉美玉。河伯许兮薪不属。

薪不属兮卫人罪。烧萧条兮噫乎何以御水。颓林竹兮揵石菑。

宣防塞兮万福来。

This song talks about the long major flooding of the Hu Zi River. Many places were covered by flood water like an ocean. The emperor attributed this to the unkind actions of the river deity. They were able to contain the flood water with measures such as using grass and bamboo poles filled with dirt as dykes.

申叔时引鄙语

史记陈世家

牵牛径人田。田主夺之牛。

When taking a cow and trespassing on someone else's land, the land lord of that land took awaythe cow.

晋国儿谣

史记晋世家

恭太子更葬矣。后十四年。晋亦不昌。昌乃在兄。

The proper reburial of Prince Gong was completed. But for the next fourteen years, the kingdomof Jin still did not prosper. It prospered only after Prince Gong's older brother came to thethrone.

赵武灵王梦处女鼓琴歌

史记赵世家

美人荧荧兮。颜若苕之荣。命乎命乎。

逢天时而生。曾无我嬴。

This song was sung by a king who had dreamed of a very beautiful girl. He felt that people need to be born at the right time to be able to do well in anything.

肥义引谚

史记赵世家

死者复生。生者不愧。

Even if the dead come back to life, the people who live would still not have any regrets.

去鲁歌

史记孔子世家

彼妇之口。可以出走。彼妇之谒。可以死败。

盖优哉游哉。维以卒岁。

What comes out of those women's mouths is enough to send people in exile. And being visited by them is enough to kill. It is better to live with no pressureand die of an old age.

天下为卫子夫歌

史记外戚世家

生男无喜。生女无怒。独不见卫子夫霸天下。

Having baby boys is no reason to rejoice. Having baby girls is no reason to despair. Do you notsee how powerful empress Wei Zi Fu is?

褚先生引谚论外戚

史记外戚世家

美女入室。恶女之仇。

The arrival of a beautiful woman is cause of hatred in an ugly woman.

朱虚侯耕田歌

史记齐悼惠王世家

深耕穊种。立苗欲流。非其种者。锄而去之。

Plow deeply and plant seeds with little space in between. When it is time to secure the sprouts, it is better to space them out and take out the sprouts of unwanted species.

画一歌

史记曹参世家

萧何为法。顜若画一。曹参代之。守而勿失。

载其清静。民以宁壹。

When Xiao He drew up the legal codes, he drew them up clearly and systematically. When CaoSen took over his job, he was following Xiao He's constitution closely without any mistakes. The society stayed peaceful and the people enjoyed the tranquil life.

鸿鹄歌

史记留侯世家

鸿鹄高飞。一举千里。羽翮已就。横绝四海。

横绝四海。当可奈何。虽有矰缴。尚安所施。

The wild goose is flying high, and with one flop of its wings it has gone a thousand miles. Its wings have matured and are able to cross the four seas without any trouble. Even if one tries to shoot arrows at it, there can be noharm done.

吕太后引鄙语

史记陈丞相世家

儿妇人口不可用。

It is not a good idea to listen to what children and women have to say.

褚先生引鄙语论梁孝王

史记梁孝王世家

骄子不孝。

Spoiled children are not going to be filial.

伯夷叔齐采薇歌

史记伯夷列传

登彼西山兮。采其薇矣。以暴易暴兮。不知其非矣。

神农虞夏。忽焉没兮。

我安适归矣。于嗟徂兮。命之衰矣。

This song describes two people who used to be officials in one emperor's court. After control ofthe nation changed hands, they would rather starve to death than serve another emperor.

秦人谚

史记樗里子传

力则任鄙。智则樗里。

The strongest man is Ren Bi and the wisest man is Chu Li

太史公引鄙语论起翦

史记白起王翦传赞

尺有所短。寸有所长。

There is something long about the measuring unit feet, and there is something short about the unit inches. This refers to two generals who each have their respective capabilities and inabilities.

太史公又引鄙语论平原君

史记平原君传赞

利令智昏。

It is profit that makes a wise man loose his senses.

邹阳引谚

史记邹阳传

有白头如新。倾盖如故。

This proverb refers to how two people can know each other forever yet do not become friends, and another two people can meet for the first time, yet talk like theyare old friends.

曹邱生引楚人谚

史记季布传

得黄金百斤。不如得季布一诺。

Getting a hundred Jing (weight measure) of gold is not as good as getting a promise from Ji Bu (name of a renowned person)

颍川儿歌

史记灌天传

颍水清。灌氏宁。颍水浊。灌氏族。

This children's song refers to the rise and fall of a Guan family in the Yin River area.

太史公引谚论李广

史记李将军传赞

桃李不言。下自成蹊。

Peach and plum trees may not utter words, but under them, the paths are formed by the manyvisitors coming to appreciate their blossoms. This is referring to Han dynasty general Li Guang who should not be judged by his appearance.

司马相如引鄙谚

史记司马相如传

家累千金者。坐不垂堂。

A wealthy person does not sit right under the edge of roofs out of fear of falling tiles.

民为淮南厉王歌

史记淮南厉王传

一尺布。尚可缝。一斗粟。尚可舂。兄弟二人。不能兼容。

With only one foot of cloth, one can tailor clothes shared by many, and even with one Dou (unitof grain measurement) of millets, one can cook for many. This country is big. Why can it be notshared by two Prince brothers.

关东吏为宁成号

史记酷吏传

宁见乳虎。无直宁成之怒。

One would rather see a tiger who has just delivered a baby and is overtly defensive than meet Ning Cheng when he is angry.

太史公引鄙语论游侠

史记游侠列传

何知仁义。已向其利者为有德。

There is no need to know any virtue. It seems that the world considers whoever gets benefit is thevirtuous one.

太史公又引谚论游侠

史记游侠列传

人貌荣名。岂有既乎。

One's appearance does not limit the reach of one's reputation.

太史公引谚论佞幸

史记佞幸列传

力田﹑不如逢年。善仕﹑不如遇合。

Working hard in the field is not as good as having a good year, being good at serving in an office is not as good as meeting a compatible superior.

优孟歌

史记滑稽优孟传

山居耕田苦。难以得食。起而为吏。身贪鄙者余财。

不顾耻辱。身死家室富。又恐受赇枉法。为奸触大罪。

身死而家灭。贪吏安可为也。念为廉吏。奉法守职。

竟死不敢为非。廉吏安可为也。楚相孙叔敖。持廉至死。

方今妻子穷困。负薪而食。不足为也。

This song refers to how it is not rewarding to be a decent government official since the honestone has to live in poverty.

东方朔歌

史记滑稽传

陆沉于俗。避世金马门。宫殿中。可以避世全身。

何必深山之中。蒿芦之下。

I land in this world and escape inside the palace. It is possible to be secluded right inside the palace. Why does one have to go deep into the mountain, and live in a grass hut.

褚先生引谚论东郭先生

史记滑稽传

相马失之瘦。相士失之贫。

It is a mistake to condemn a horse for being slim and to condemn a capable person for being poor.

太史公又引谚论货殖

史记货殖列传

千金之子。不死于市。

The son of a rich person does not have to die in punishment of a felony.

太史公又引谚论人物

史记货殖列传

百里不贩樵。千里不贩籴。居之一岁。种之以谷。

十岁﹑树之以木。百岁﹑来之以德。

This refers to how one should manage one's assets well. One should raise crops to gainimmediate profits. The main rule is to follow the established virtues while one lives to an oldage.

时人为宁成语

史记宁成传异文

谨上操下。如束湿薪。

He is loose to his superiors but very demanding on his subordinates like he is in too much a hurryto wait for the wood to dry before tying it together.

嘉平歌

史记秦始皇本纪集解

神仙得者茅初成。驾龙上升入太清。时下玄洲戏赤城。

继世而往在我盈。帝若学之腊嘉平。

This refers to the emperor who changed his imperial chronological designation (a uniquepractice of the Chinese dynasties for calling certain periods of time of the same emperor) afterbeing inspired by the story of a Taoist practitioner who was said to have risen to heaven andreturned to earth to tell people about his experience.

徐广引谚

史记货殖列传

研桑心算。

There are two people, Yan and Sang Hong Yang, who are really good at analyzing businessdeals.

卷五

商邱成醉歌

汉书景武昭宣成元功臣表

出居安能郁郁。

Why am I feeling unhappy as a government official?

班固引谚论刑法

汉书邢法志

鬻棺者欲岁之疫。

Coffin sales people would like to have a plague every year.

元帝诗童谣

汉书五行志二

井水溢。灭灶烟。灌玉堂。流金门。

On the overthrow of the present ruling government.

成帝时燕燕童谣

汉书五行志二

燕燕﹑尾涎涎。

张公子时相见。木门仓琅根。燕飞来。啄皇孙。

皇孙死。燕啄矢。

On how the woman dancer Zhao Fei Yan entered the emperor's palace by pleasing the emperor and murdered the princes for her own benefit.

成帝时黄爵谣

汉书五行志二

邪径败良田。谗口乱善人。桂树华不实。黄爵巢其颠。

故未人所羡。今为人所怜。

On how the Han dynasty fell to disgrace because of mismanagement of affairs and personnel, leading to the take-over by Wang Mang.

魏河内民为史起歌

汉书沟洫志

邺有贤令兮为史公。决漳水兮灌邺旁。终古舄卤兮生稻梁。

On Ye's (place name) having a good official who was able to resolve an irrigation problem and to enable crops growing on salted land.

郑白渠歌

汉书沟洫志

田于何所。池阳谷口。郑国在前。白渠起后。

举臿为云。决渠为雨。水流灶下。鱼跃入釜。

泾水一石。其泥数斗。且溉且粪。长我禾黍。

衣食京师。亿万之口。

On the accomplishment of an efficient irrigation system that ensured large harvests to feed many in the capital city.

班固引谚论经方

汉书艺文志

有病不治。常得中医。

If one delays the treatment of a disease, one does not recover quickly.

贾谊引里谚论廉耻

汉书贾谊传

欲投鼠而忌器。

On wanting to attack someone yet being afraid of the consequences.

路温书引俗语

汉书路温书传

画地为狱议不入。刻木为吏期不对。

On how the prison officials practiced such excessive cruelty that they were jeopardizing the entire system.

广川王去为陶望卿歌

汉书广川惠王越传

背尊章。嫖以忽。谋屈奇。起自绝。行周流。自生患。

谅非望。今谁怨。

On a strife between two mistresses of Prince Qi. One of them had to take her own life after failing to please the prince because of the other's slander of her.

广川王去为诸姬歌

汉书广川惠王越传

愁莫愁。居无聊。心重结。意不舒。内茀郁。忧哀积。

上不见天生何益。日崔陨。时不再。愿弃躯。死无悔。

On to the boring life of Prince Qi's mistresses after they were ordered to stay within their living quarters and granted no freedom of going out.

李陵海上歌

汉书苏武传

径万里兮度沙幕。为君将兮奋匈奴。路穷绝兮矢刃摧。

士众灭兮名已隤。老母已死。虽欲报恩将安归。

A song sung by Li Ling, a Han general who had to surrender to Xiong Nu after he was set up to lose one key battle. This song expresses his feelings of hopelessness and sorrow because of his mother's execution by the emperor because of his surrender.

司马迁引谚

汉书司马迁传

谁为为之。孰令听之。

On the sadness of Si Ma Qian who advocated justice by speaking on behalf of Li Ling (as in 0171), and yet was punished by the emperor.

燕王旦歌

汉书燕刺王旦传

归空城兮。狗不吠。鸡不鸣。横术何广广兮。

固知国中之无人。

A song sung by a prince who complained that there were no qualified people to serve as officials.

华容夫人歌

汉书燕刺王旦传

发纷纷兮寘渠。骨藉藉兮亡居。母求死子兮妻求死夫。

裴回两渠间兮君子独安居。

A song that expresses the great suffering of Madam Hua Rong who experienced the execution of her husband and children and was abducted into the service of a powerful man.

广陵王胥歌

汉书广陵厉王胥传

欲久生兮无终。长不乐兮安穷。奉天期兮不得须臾。

千里马兮驻待路。黄泉下兮幽深。人生要死﹑何为苦心。

何用为乐心所喜。出入无悰为乐亟。

蒿里召兮郭门阅。死不得取代庸。身自逝。

A song sung by Prince Xu on the brink of his execution after he was found to have used voodoo or shamanism to try to overthrow the ruling emperor.

杨恽拊缶歌

汉书杨恽传

田彼南山。芜秽不治。种一顷豆。落而为萁。

人生行乐耳。须富贵何时。

A song sung by Yang Yun about how the government is in a mess and how people should try to enjoy their lives by not worrying about pursing wealth and fame.

诸儒为朱云语

汉书朱云传

五鹿岳岳。朱云折其角。

How Zhu Yun was able to defeat the emperor's favorite five scholars in debate.

琅邪里中为王吉语

汉书王吉传

东家有树。王阳妇去。东家枣完。去妇复还。

How Wang Ji divorced his wife for picking fruit from a tree grown over from next door. His neighbor cut the fruit tree down and asked him to take his wife back.

汉书称王贡语

汉书王贡传

王阳在位。贡公弹冠。

How Wang Ji and Gong Yu would both work together and retreat from work together.

京师为王骏语

汉书王吉传

前有赵张。后有三王。

The capable people in the capital city are first Chao and then three men with the same surname Wang.

贡禹引俗语

汉书贡禹传

何以孝弟为。财多而光荣。何以礼仪为。史书而仕宦。

何以谨慎为。勇猛而临官。

How the morality of society has deteriorated so much due to the government's bad policy of selling office positions.

邹鲁谚

汉书韦贤传

遗子黄金满籯。不如一经。

Leaving the children with a lot of gold is not as good as leaving them with just one book.

京师为诸葛丰语

汉书诸葛丰传

闲何阔。逢诸葛。

How Zhu Ge Fong is doing a good job at his post.

刘辅引里语

汉书陆辅传

腐木不可以为柱。卑人不可以为主。

Rotten wood should not be used as posts and servants should not be acting as masters.

长安为萧朱王贡语

汉书萧育传

萧朱结绶。王贡弹冠。

How friends recommend one another for jobs.

上郡为冯氏兄弟歌

汉书冯野王传

大冯君。小冯君。兄弟继踵相因循。聪明贤知惠吏民。

政如鲁卫德化钧。周公﹑康叔犹二君。

A song sung by people in Shang county on how the two Fong brothers are doing a good job as officials in that county.

诸儒为匡衡语

汉书匡衡传

无说诗。匡鼎来。匡说诗。解人颐。

Kuang Heng is good at interpreting poetry.

诸儒为张禹语

汉书张禹传

欲为论。念张文。

How Zhang Yu is the ultimate expert on Confucius' Lun Yu (the Annalect).

薛宣引鄙语

汉书薛宣传

苛政不亲。烦苦伤恩。

Inappropriate and harsh policies distance the people from the government. Not only do they induce suffering and pain, they also counter the favors given to the people in the past.

汝南鸿陂童谣

汉书翟方进传

坏陂谁。翟子威。饭我豆食羹芋魁。反乎覆。陂当复。

谁云者﹑两黄鹄

A children's song on how a past policy of dismantling a dyke and making a lake out of a river by Zhai Zi Wei is causing the current drought problem.

王嘉引里语

汉书王嘉传

千人所指。无病而死。

If thousands of people have complaints against one person, that person will die even with no illness.

京师为杨雄语

汉书杨雄传赞

惟寂寞。自投阁。爱清静。作符命。

On some political complication after Wang Mang took the throne. Wang Mang was trying to get rid of some people who assisted him in taking over the office fearing that they would do the same for a rival.

长安中为尹赏歌

汉书尹赏传

安所求子死。桓东少年场。生时谅不谨。枯骨后何葬。

On how the mayor of Chang An, Yin Shang, arrested a few hundred juvenile delinquents in the city and left them to die in a deep cave covered with rocks. Only one hundred days later, he allowed the family to identify the bodies and take them home. The song says that those juveniles may have been bad, yet is it right to bury a body that is mere skeleton.

班固引谚论货殖

汉书货殖传序

以贫求富。农不如工。工不如商。刺绣文。不如倚市门。

The best way to become wealthy is through trade.

长安为谷永楼护号

汉书楼护传

谷子云笔札。楼君卿唇舌。

On two celebrities of the time, one was a good writer by the name of Gu Zi Yun, the other was a good debater named Lou Jun Qing.

闾里为楼护歌

汉书楼护传

五侯治丧楼君卿。

All key government officials assisted with the funeral proceedings of Lou Jun Qing's mother.

牢石歌

汉书石显传

牢邪石邪。五鹿客邪。印何累累。绶若若邪。

On how a few people were so powerful politically speaking.

长安谣

汉书石显传

伊徙鴈。鹿徙菟。去牢与陈实无贾。

A folk song of Chang An city on how they were happy about those powerful people (described in 0197) lost their political clout.

平城歌

汉书匈奴传

平城之下亦诚苦。七日不食﹑不能彀弩。

The Xiong Nu (a tribe at the north of the Chinese border at the time) army had surrounded the city of Ping and the Han people and army were stuck in the city without food for seven whole days. The soldiers could not even use their bows.

乌孙公主悲愁歌

汉书乌孙传

吾家嫁我兮天一方。远托异国兮乌孙王。穹庐为室兮旃为墙。

以肉为食兮酪为浆。居常土思兮心内伤。愿为黄鹄兮归故乡。

A song sung by a Chinese girl who married the chief of a neighboring foreign tribe for the sake of diplomatic ties. She did not like the nomadic food and environment and she did not know the tribal language. She was hoping to become a swan and fly home.

戚夫人歌

汉书吕后传

子为王。母为虏。终日舂薄暮。常与死为伍。相离三千里。

当谁使告女。

A song sung by one of the concubines whose son became the second emperor of Han dynasty. Her complaint about being under house arrest caused the empress to order her execution.

李延年歌

汉书李夫人传

北方有佳人。绝世而独立。一顾倾人城。再顾倾人国。

宁不知倾城与倾国。佳人难再得。

A song sung to the emperor by the emperor's musician Li Yan Nian who was trying to inform the emperor the exquisiteness of his beautiful sister.

长安民为王氏五侯歌

汉书元后传

五侯初起。曲阳最怒。坏决高都。连竟外杜。

土山渐台西白虎。

A song sung by civilians in the city of Chang An about the extravagant lifestyle of five princes.

长安为张竦语

汉书王莽传

欲求封。过张伯松。力战斗。不如巧为奏。

A song sung by people of Chang An about Chang Song who wrote a tribute to Wang Mang, the regent of the emperor's court. Chang Song was rewarded for this flattering act.

东方为王匡廉丹语

汉书王莽传

宁逢赤眉。不逢太师。太师尚可。更始杀我。

A song sung by people in northeastern China who were plagued by pillaging of officials and soldiers sent by the central ruling government.

华人为高昌人歌

汉书逸文

驴非驴。马非马。

A song describing how barbaric the Gao Chang people were. Gao Chang was a kingdom in northwestern China.

孟康引民语

汉书景帝纪

金可作。世可度。

A saying referring to the advantage of a penal code for producing fake gold.

卷六

弘农王悲歌

后汉书何后纪附王美人传

天道易兮我何艰。弃万乘兮退守藩。

逆臣见迫兮命不延。逝将去汝兮适幽玄。

A song sung by the Han emperor who was stripped of his throne and forced to take poison to kill himself.

唐姬悲歌

后汉书何后纪附王美人传

皇天崩兮后土颓。身为帝兮命夭摧。死生路异兮从此乖。

奈我茕独兮心中哀。

A song sung by the concubine of the emperor in 0208 expressing her sorrow over the forced suicide of the emperor.

更始时长安中语

后汉书刘玄传

灶下养。中郎将。烂羊胃。骑都尉。烂羊头。关内侯。

Words spread in Chang An describing how government posts could be purchased so that even cooks were becoming officials.

时人为甄丰语

后汉书彭宠传

夜半客。甄长伯。

Words referring to an official who used to go into the emperor's court at midnight to visit Wang Mang, who acted as the regent of the court.

公孙述闻梦中人语

后汉书公孙述传

八私子系。十二为期。

A warlord who claimed to have heard people telling him in his dream that he could be an emperor for a span of time.

蜀中童谣

后汉书公孙述传

黄牛白腹。五铢当复。

A folk song sung in present day Si Chuan. It refers to the control of the throne, which would be given back to the Liu's of the Han imperial family.

魏郡舆人为岑熙歌

后汉书岑彭传

我有枳棘。岑君伐之。我有蟊贼。岑君遏之。

狗吠不惊。足下生牦。

含哺鼓腹﹑焉知凶灾。我喜我生﹑独丁斯时。

美矣岑君﹑于戏休茈。

A song praising Chen Xi who was doing a superb job governing Wei county.

马廖引长安语

后汉书马廖传

城中好高髻。四方高一尺。城中好广眉。四方且半额。

城中好大袖。四方全匹帛。

Words in the city of Chang An about how the emperor's extravagant taste was imposing much financial misery on the people.

关东为鲁丕语

后汉书鲁丕传

五经复兴﹑鲁叔陵。

Words praising Lu Pi who revived the learning of important scriptures.

光武引谚

后汉书宋弘传

贵易交。富易妻。

A saying referring to how easy it is to make friends with people and procure wives when one is wealthy.

荆州民为郭贺歌

后汉书郭贺传

厥德仁明﹑郭乔卿。忠正朝廷上下平。

A song sung by people of Jing Chou praising their governor Kuo He.

京兆乡里为冯豹语

后汉书冯衍传

道德彬彬﹑冯仲文。

Words referring to the morality of Fong Pao.

南阳为杜诗语

后汉书杜诗传

前有召父。后有杜母。

Words spread by the people of Nan Yang in praising its official Du Shi.

渔阳民为张堪歌

后汉书张堪传

桑无附枝。麦穗两岐。张君为政。乐不可支。

A song sung by people of Yu Yang in praising its official Zhang Kan.

蜀郡民为廉范歌

后汉书廉范传

廉叔度。来何暮。不禁火。民安作。平生无襦今五裤。

A song sung by people of Shu in praising its official Lian Fan.

时人为廉范语

后汉书廉范传

前有管鲍。后有庆廉。

Words referring to the valuable friendship between Qing Hong and Lian Fan.

交址民为贾琮歌

后汉书贾琮传

贾父来晚。使我先反。今见清平。吏不敢饭。

A song sung by people in current day Vietnam in praising the good policies enforced by Jia Zong.

肃宗引谚

后汉书曹褒传

作舍道傍。三年不成。

A saying referring to how long it takes for reforms of ritual ceremonies to be discussed among scholars who all have their own ideas.

诸儒为贾逵语

后汉书贾逵传

问事不休﹑贾长头。

The person who had the most number of questions on scriptures was the tall guy, Jia Kui.

会稽童谣

后汉书张霸传

弃我戟。捐我矛。盗贼尽。吏皆休。

Referring to the good county official Zhang Ba in Hui Ji. He was able to eliminate crimes such as robbery and burglary without using much man power.

京师为桓典语

后汉书桓典传

行行且止。避骢马御史。

One should stop from time to time when walking on the streets in order to avoid that official who had very stern principles and rode on a blue and white horse.

时人为丁鸿语

后汉书丁鸿传

殿中无双﹑丁孝公。

In the emperor's court, no one was as knowledgeable as Ding Hong was.

临淮吏人为朱晖歌

后汉书诸晖传

疆直自遂。南阳朱季。吏畏其威。人怀其惠。

A song praising the good work of Zhu Hui.

京师为胡广谚

后汉书胡广传

万事不理﹑问伯始。天下中庸﹑有胡公。

Referring to how Hu Guang was knowledgeable and yet also very humble and amiable.

时人为王符语

后汉书王符传

徒见二千石。不如一缝掖

Referring to the joy of meeting someone whom one admires.

关西为杨震语

后汉书杨震传

关西孔子﹑杨伯起。

Yang Zhen is the Confucius of the Guan Xi area.

顺阳吏民为刘陶歌

后汉书刘陶传

邑然不乐。思我刘君。何时复来。安此下民。

A song praising the good work Liu Tao had done in lowering the crime rate substantially for Shun Yang.

虞诩引谚

后汉书虞诩传

关西出将。关东出相。

Good generals came from the Guan Xi area and good secretaries came from the Guan Dong area.

京师为周举语

后汉书周举传

五经纵横﹑周宣光。

Referring to how knowledgeable of the five major scriptures Zhou Ju was.

京师为光禄茅才谣

后汉书黄琬传

欲得不能。光禄茂才。

Referring to how some government posts were for sale, preventing some poor people with abilities from serving in those positions.

颍川为荀爽语

后汉书荀淑传

荀氏八龙。慈明无双。

Of the eight sons of Xun Shu, Xun Shuang was the most outstanding.

时人为陈氏语

后汉书陈寔传

公惭卿﹑卿惭长。

Referring to how men of four generations in one Chen household occupied high positions in the central government and how they became arrogant.

京师为李氏语

后汉书李固传

父不肯立帝。子不肯立王。

Noting that the father and son of one Li household were powerful in terms of their influence on who could become the emperor during Eastern Han dynasty.

京兆民语

后汉书延笃传

前有赵张三王。后有边延二君。

People in the capital naming the good mayors in a sequence.

陈蕃引鄙谚

后汉书陈蕃传

盗不过五女门。

A burglar would not rob a household with over five mistresses as those women would have impoverished the household with their expenditures.

三府为朱震谚

后汉书陈蕃传

车如鸡栖马如狗。疾恶如风朱伯厚。

Referring to how Zhu Zhen could not tolerate any injustice.

甘陵民谣

后汉书党锢传序

天下规矩﹑房伯武。因师获印﹑周仲进。

The rules in the world seemed to have been set up by Fang Buo Wu. Zhou Zhong Jin became a secretary to the emperor because of having previously been the emperor's teacher.

汝南南阳二郡民谣

后汉书党锢传序

汝南太守范孟博。南阳宗资主画诺。南阳太守岑公孝。

弘农成琎但坐啸。

Ru Nan official Fan Meng knew many things. Because Nan Yang official Zong Zi was illiterate, he could only grant permissions without knowing what was on the document. Mr. Chen was very filial. Cheng Jin was short tempered.

太学诸生语

后汉书党锢传序

天下模楷﹑李元礼。不畏强御﹑陈仲举。天下俊秀﹑王叔茂。

The world's role model was Li Yan Li, and Chen Zhong Ju was not afraid to say the bad things some powerful people had done. Wang Shu Mao was very talented.

天下为贾彪语

后汉书贾彪传

贾氏三虎。伟节最怒。

Of the three sons of the Jia householod, Jia Biao was the most outstanding.

陈琳引谣

后汉书何进传

掩目捕雀。

Close one's eye and try to catch sparrows: this refers to one's not doing the right thing.

冀州民为皇甫蒿歌

后汉书皇甫蒿传

天下大乱兮市为墟。母不保子兮妻失夫。赖得皇甫兮复安居。

A song praising the charitable act of Huang Fu Song in relieving the people's starvation.

道士负布歌

后汉书董卓传

布乎。

Referring to how Dong Zhuo could not take a hint on tips regarding his assassin

献帝初幽州童谣

后汉书公孙瓒传

燕南垂。赵北际。中央不合大如砺。唯有此中可避世。

A children's song referring to the arrogant warlord Gong Sun Zan.

蒲亭乡为仇览谚

后汉书仇览传

父母何在在我庭。化我鸤枭哺所生。

A proverb encouraging people to be filial to parents.

京师为董宣歌

后汉书董宣传

枹鼓不鸣﹑董少平。

A song praising the world class wrestler Dong Xuan

凉州民为樊晔歌

后汉书樊晔传

游子常苦贫。力子天所当。宁见乳虎穴。不入冀府寺。

大笑期必死。忿怒或见置。嗟我樊府君。安可再遭值。

A song praising the governor of Liang Zhou, Fan Ye, who executed the law strictly.

天下为四侯语

后汉书宦者单超传

左回天。具独坐。徐卧虎。唐两墯。

Referring to the five eunuchs who were dominating the imperial court.

时人为任安语

后汉书任安传

欲知仲桓﹑问任安。

居今行古﹑任定祖。

Referring to the supreme scholar Ren An.

京师为杨政语

后汉书杨政传

说经铿铿﹑杨子行。

Referring to Yang Zheng who was outstanding in his interpretation of the scriptures.

京师为戴冯语

后汉书戴冯传

解经不穷﹑戴侍中。

Referring to Dai Ping who was considered to be the most outstanding in interpreting scriptures in the imperial court.

寿春乡里为召驯语

后汉书召驯传

德行恂恂﹑召伯春。

Referring to the highly regarded scholar Zhao Xun who was considered to be virtuous.

时人为周泽语

后汉书周泽传

生世不谐。作太常妻。一岁三百六十日。三百五十九日齐。

一日不齐醉如泥。既作事。复低迷。

Referring to being thrown in jail, the harsh treatment Zhou Ze's wife got after asking what ailments were bothering Zhou Ze, who had very petty rules during his constantly on-going vegetarian retreat for the purpose of eliminating his ailments.

时人为许慎语

后汉书许慎传

五经无双﹑许叔重。

Referring to Xu Shen to whom no one was a parallel in terms of knowing the five major Confucian scriptures.

京师为黄香号

后汉书黄香传

天下无双。江夏黄童。

Referring to Huang Xiang who not only strictly followed filial piety but also was very incomparably learned.

豫章乡里为雷义陈重语

后汉书陈重传

胶漆自谓坚。不如雷与陈。

Referring to the friendship between Lei Yi and Chen Zhong. It was so close that no other friendship could be as close.

梁沛间为范冉歌

后汉书范冉传

甑中生尘﹑范史云。釜中生鱼﹑范莱芜。

Referring to a former civil servant, Fan Ran, who was framed and forced to escape to a countryside where he was so poor as to have only dust in his canisters and nothing to cook in his pots.

益都为任文公语

后汉书任文公传

任文公﹑智无双。

Referring to the unparalleled wisdom of Ren Wen Gong.

光武述时人语

后汉书郭宪传

关东觥觥﹑郭子横。

Referring to the Guo Xian's straight talk in which he was not even afraid of upholding his contending stance in front of the emperor.

平原人为王君公语

后汉书逢萌传

避世墙东﹑王君公。

Referring to the hermit Wang Jun Gong.

京师为井丹语

后汉书井丹传

五经纷纶﹑井大春。

Referring to Jing Dan's skill in discussing the Five Scriptures.

梁鸿五噫歌

后汉书梁鸿传

陟彼北芒兮﹑噫。顾览帝京兮﹑噫。宫室崔嵬兮﹑噫。

人之劬劳兮﹑噫。辽辽未央兮﹑噫。

A song sung by Laing Hong expressing his discontent towards the emperor's policies which were tormenting the people.

时人为戴遵语

后汉书戴良传

关东大豪﹑戴子高。

Referring to the generous millionaire Dai Zun.

班昭女诫引鄙谚

后汉书曹世叔妻班昭传

生男如狼。犹恐其尪。生女如鼠。犹恐其虎。

One should like one's son as aggressive as wolves and should even be afraid that he would be too wimpy. One should want one's daughter to be constantly scared as a mouse and even be afraid that she would be as harsh as tigers.

益州民为尹就谚

后汉书南蛮传

虏来尚可。尹来杀我。

When the barbaric tribal people came, we could put up with it, yet when General Yin Jiu was dispatched by the government, he came to slaughter us.

哀牢行者歌

后汉书哀牢夷传

汉德广。开不宾。度博南。越兰津。度兰仓。为它人。

A song sung by people who were sent forth to the frontiers involuntarily to develop new colonies out of a very harsh environment.

京师为鲍永鲍恢语

后汉书异文

贵威敛手避二鲍。

One should try not to do bad things in order to avoid getting caught by Pao Cheng and Pao Hui.

京师为鲍宣鲍永鲍昱歌

后汉书逸文

鲍氏骢。三人司隶再入公。马虽疲。行步工。

Referring to the three officials Pao Xuan, Pao Yong, and Pao Yi who all rode on blue and white horses. Though their horses were skinny, they walked as though they were really strong.

汲县长老为崔瑗歌

后汉书逸文

上天降神明。锡我仁慈父。临民布德泽。恩惠施以序。

穿沟广灌溉。决渠作甘雨。

A song praising the way Cui Xuan created arable lands out of salty land and established a good irrigation system.

弘农人为吴佑谣

后汉书逸文

君不我忧。人何以休。不行界署。焉知人处。

Referring to the good local official, Wu You, who was managing everything well.

桓灵时人为选举语二则

后汉书逸文

举秀才。不知书。察孝廉。父别居。寒素清白浊如泥。

高第良将怯如鸡。古人欲达勤诵经。今世图官免治生。

Referring to how the system of filling government posts by references was failing, since the people hired were all incompetent.

长安中为郎舍谣

后汉书献帝纪

头白皓然。食不充粮。裹衣褰裳。当还故乡。

圣主愍念。悉用补郎。舍是布衣。被服玄黄。

Referring to the emperor's awarding some senior intellectuals in the court with funds allowing them to retire to their homelands.

京师为袁成谚

后汉书袁绍传

事不谐。问文开。

People should ask Yuan Cheng about how to get along with another person well.

时人为吕布语

后汉书吕布传

人中有吕布。马中有赤菟。

Of all the military personnel, Lu Bu was the most outstanding, of all the horses, his horse Chu Tu was the best.

羊陈元引谚

后汉书仇览传注引谢承书曰

孤犊触乳。骄子骂母。

Spoiled children tend to scold their mothers.

时人为葛龚语

后汉书葛龚传

作奏虽工。宜去葛龚。

Although Ge Gong's writing was good, he should be taken off the list of writers.

更始时南阳童谣

续汉书五行志一

谐不谐。在赤眉。得不得。在河北。

With those bandits who had their eyebrows painted red, there would not be peace. The social order was recovered by the first emperor of Eastern Han, who originated the task from He Pei.

王莽末天水童谣

续汉书五行志一

出吴门。望缇群。见一蹇人。言欲上天。令天可上。

地上安得民。

Referring to the impractical ambitions of one warlord Huai Xiao. The children's song went like this: if one could rise to heaven, there would not be any people on earth.

顺帝末京都童谣

续汉书五行志一

直如弦。死道边。曲如钩。反封侯。

Referring to how Li Gu was executed after making decent suggestions to the empress as to who should succeed the throne.

桓帝初天下童谣

续汉书五行志一

小麦青青大麦枯。谁当获者妇与姑。丈人何在西击胡。

吏买马。君具车。请为诸君鼓咙胡。

A children's song about how men were drafted to go to war with the invading neighboring tribes on the Chinese borders, leaving only women to do the farming.

桓帝初京都童谣

续汉书五行志一

城上乌。尾毕逋。一年生九雏。公为吏。子为徒。一徒死。

百乘车。车班班。入河间。河间奼女工数钱。

以钱为室金作堂。石上慊慊舂黄梁。

梁下有悬鼓。我欲击之丞卿怒。

This is a children's song describing how officials were corrupted and how the royal family were wasting money with construction, and how there were no channels through which officials with integrity could make complaints to the emperor.

又桓帝初京都童谣

续汉书五行志一

游平卖印自有平。不辟贤豪及大姓。

A children's song referring to how changes occurred after General Do Wu came to power and was fair in the hiring of officials since he disregarded the social and financial background of applicants.

桓帝末京都童谣

续汉书五行志一

矛田一顷中有井。四方纤纤不可整。嚼复嚼。

今年尚可后年铙。

A children's song referring to the current political situation in which there were good officials and good regulations. However, after General Dou Wu was executed, things began to decline.

又桓帝末京都童谣

续汉书五行志一

白盖小车何延延。河间来合谐。河间来合谐。

A children's song referring to the political situation after Emperor Huan died and Emperor Ning took over. How some people gained power and others lost both power and their lives because of this change.

灵帝末京都童谣

续汉书五行志一

侯非侯。王非王。千乘万骑上北芒。

A children's song referring to how some powerful people who were not emperors, yet were just as powerful as emperors, were followed by an entourage of officials.

灵帝中平中京都歌

续汉书五行志一

承乐世﹑董逃。游四郭﹑董逃。蒙天恩﹑董逃。

带金紫﹑董逃。行谢恩﹑董逃。整车骑﹑董逃。

垂欲发﹑董逃。与中辞﹑董逃。出西门﹑董逃。

瞻宫殿﹑董逃。望京城﹑董逃。日夜绝﹑董逃。

心摧伤﹑董逃。

A folk song sung in the capital area during Emperor Ning's reign implying the life process of the man, Dong Zhuo. The song details events from his seizure of power to his demise.

献帝初京师都童谣

续汉书五行志一

千里草。何青青。十日卜。不得生。

A children's song referring to the same person as in 0293.

建安初荆州童谣

续汉书五行志一

八九年间始欲衰。至十三年无孑遗。

A children's song referring to the warlord Liu Biao who dominated Jing Zhou for eight to nine years and then suffered a complete decline in thirteen years.

刘圣公宾客醉歌

续汉书逸文

朝烹两都尉。游徼后来。用调羹味。

A song sung by the drunk guests at Liu Sheng Gong's banquet. The song was teasing one of the guests, You Xi, who tied up and beat hundreds of these drunk guests.

京兆为李变谣

续汉书逸文

我府君。道教举。恩如春。威如虎。刚不吐。弱不茹。

爱如母。训如父。

A folk song in the capital area praising the then mayor Li Xie for his good work for the people.

陇水歌

续汉书郡国志

陇头流水。分离四下。念我行役。飘然旷野。

登高远望。涕零变堕。

A song sung by Eastern Chinese people who were dispatched to western China for forced labor and could not help sing this song and shed tears when they climbed up a hill looking to the east.

卷七

曹操引谚

三国志魏书崔琰传

生女耳。

Having women's ears for listening to flatterers, referring to how unpredictable one's superior's reaction is to flatterers.

冀州人称邢颙语

三国志魏书邢颙传

德行堂堂﹑邢子昂。

Xing Zi Ang is very righteous

军中为典韦语

三国志魏书典韦传

帐下壮士有典君。提一双戟八十斤。

There is such a soldier named Dian Wei who carries an unusually heavy weapon.

陈思王植引谚

三国志魏书陈思王植传

相门有相。将门有将。

Ministers come from a household of ministers, and generals come from a household of generals.

王昶引谚

三国志魏书王昶传

救寒莫如重裘。止谤莫如自修。

Heavy coats save people from chills, and self-cultivation saves one from the slander of others.

襄阳乡里为马良谚

三国志蜀书马良传

马氏五常。白眉最良。

Of the five Ma brothers, the one with the white eyebrow is the most outstanding.

谯周引谚

三国志蜀书谯周传

射幸数跌。不如审发。

To prevent arrows from missing the targets, one should caution to aim well when shooting the arrow. The key to winning a battle is to not burden the general population with military expenses.

吴中童谣

三国志吴书吴主权传

三国志吴书吴主权传

黄金车。班兰耳。闿昌门。出天子。

A children's song referring to the enthronement of the Wu emperor.

时人为周瑜谣

三国志吴书周瑜传

曲有误。周郎顾。

When the musical tune is going wrong, Zhou Yu will notice right away.

诸葛恪引里语

三国志吴书孙权传

明镜所以照形。古事所以知今。

Just as mirrors reflect the shapes of things, ancient histories provide windows to knowing current affairs.

陆凯引童谣

三国志吴书陆凯传

宁饮建业水。不食武昌鱼。宁还建业死。不止武昌居。

A children's song explaining that choosing Wu Chang as the capital will be a bad choice, while choosing Jian Ye will be a good choice.

吴人为诸葛恪谣

三国志吴书诸葛恪传

诸葛恪。何若若。芦苇单衣篾钩落。于何相求成子阁。

A folk song referring to the way Zhu Ge Ke was buried. He was thrown off a cliff.

优人青头鸡唱

三国志魏书齐王芳纪

青头鸡。青头鸡。

"Green-headed chicken" refers to ducks. This was the verse of a song sung by one emperor's entertainer. The emperor was on the verge of losing his throne.

京师为邓扬语

三国志魏书曹爽传注云

以官易富﹑邓元茂。

Eng Yang sells government posts for money and gets rich.

魏时为蒋济谣言

三国志魏书夏侯玄传注云

欲求牙门﹑当得千匹。百人督﹑五百匹。

A rumor referring to the material costs of obtaining certain positions.

焦先羖【历】歌

三国志魏书管宁传注云

祝衄祝衄。非鱼非肉。更相追逐。本心为当杀牂羊。

更杀其羖【历】邪。

A hermit's opaque string of words which were interpreted as the mistakes made by the Wei kingdom's military strategy.

时人为杨阿若号

三国志魏书阎温传注云

东市相斫﹑杨阿若。西市相斫﹑杨阿若。

Yang A Ruo goes around fighting with people as a means of revenge and mediation.

鱼豢引谚

三国志魏书任城陈萧王传评注云

贫不学俭。卑不学恭。

One is poor because of not knowing to be frugal, and one is in the lower class of society because of not learning to be humble.

鸿胪中为韩暨韩宣语

三国志魏书裴潜传注云

大鸿胪。小鸿胪。前后治行曷相如。

Words praising two good consecutive ministers.

博昌乡人为蒋任二姓语

三国志魏书王昶传

蒋氏翁。任氏童。

The people in the Jiang household became learned only when they reached old age, and the people in the Ren household were child prodigies.

东郡谣谚

三国志魏书王凌传

马素羁。西南驰。其谁乘者朱虎骑。

A rumor referring to how Wang Ling and his nephew Ling Hu Yu wanted to support the enthronement of Prince Chu.

渭滨民谚

三国志蜀书诸葛亮传

死诸葛走生仲达。

Words referring to how the supreme military strategist Zhu Ge Liang might have died, not knowing that, the enemy camp was still retreating to avoid his army.

襄阳择妇谚

三国志蜀书诸葛亮传注云

莫作孔明择妇。止得阿承丑女。

Referring to how Zhu Ge Liang did not assume beauty to be a priority in a spouse.

寿春童谣

三国志吴书孙皓传

吴天子当上。

A children's song referring to a rumor which says a certain warlord should become the emperor. The warlord believed that.

公安童谣

三国志吴书诸葛瑾传

白鼍鸣。龟背平。南郡城中可长生。守死不去义无成。

A children's song referring to the wars between warlords.

卷八

宣帝燕歌

晋书宣帝纪

天地开辟。日月重光。遭遇际会。毕力遐方。将扫群秽。

还过故乡。肃清万里。总齐八荒。告成归老。待罪舞阳。

A song sung by emperor Xuan to express his mixed feelings for his contribution.

魏正始中民谣

晋书宣帝纪

何邓丁。乱京城。

A folk song referring to how three subordinates supported by the emperor's mother were messing up the capital city.

愍帝末童谣

晋书愍帝纪

天子何在豆田中。

Why is the emperor standing in the middle of bean fields? Referring to how one hermit was executed because of this song as his surname has the same pronunciation as the word for leaves of bean bushes.

太安之际童谣

晋书元帝纪

五马浮渡江。一马化为龙。

A children's song referring to how five princes crossed the Yang Zi River and only one of them became an emperor.

太康中晋世宁舞歌

晋书五行志上

晋世宁。舞杯盘。

The peace of Jin dynasty was as unstable as china wares in one's hands.

魏太和中儿铃曹子歌

晋书五行志中

其奈汝曹何。

A song referring to how Cao Shuang was so dominant and powerful that there was nothing that could be done to stop his abuse of power.

景初初童谣。

晋书五行志中

阿公阿公驾马车。不意阿公东渡河。阿公来还当奈何。

A children's song referring to how a prince would become enthroned. And it actually happened in that way.

吴永安中南郡儿语

晋书五行志中

三公锄﹑司马如。

Children's words referring to how the period of the Three Kingdoms were ended by the Si Ma family.

吴天纪中童谣

晋书五行志中

阿童复阿童。衔刀游渡江。不畏岸上兽。但畏水中龙。

A children's song referring to how one general Wang Jun was as heroic and powerful as a dragon in the water.

平吴后江南童谣三则

晋书五行志中

局缩肉。数横目。中国当败吴当复。

宫门柱。且当朽。吴当复在三十年后。

鸡鸣不拊翼。吴复不用力。

Three children's songs referring to the rising and falling of the Wu kingdom.

永熙中童谣

晋书五行志中

二月末。三月初。桑生裴雷柳叶舒。荆笔杨板行诏书。

宫中大马几作驴。

A children's song referring to how one emperor's subject and one prince were dominating the government and making the high officials into ass-like slaves.

元康中京洛童谣二则

晋书五行志中

南风起。吹白沙。遥望鲁国何嵯峨。千岁髑髅生齿牙。

城东马子莫咙哅。比至来年缠女发。

Referring to the violent and bloody struggle for the throne among princes and the empress at a certain period of the Jin dynasty.

又元康中童谣

晋书五行志中

屠苏鄣日覆两耳。当见瞎儿作天子。

A children's song referring to the end result of a power struggle among princes during one period of Jin dynasty. The prince who got the throne was blind.

赵王伦篡时洛中童谣

晋书五行志中

兽从北来鼻头汗。龙从南来登城看。水从西来河灌灌。

A children's song referring to how three princes from three different directions of China came to overthrow the blind emperor, and how they stayed in the court to oversee management, yet none of them intended to become an emperor.

司马越还络时童谣

晋书五行志中

络中大鼠长尺二。若不早去大狗至。

A children's song referring to how the return of a prince to the capital city was bad news.

苟晞将破汲桑上谣

晋书五行志中

元超兄弟大落度。上桑打葚为苟作。

A folk song referring to the fierce competition between two warlords.

建兴中江南谣歌

晋书五行志中

訇如白坑破。合集持作甒。杨州破换败。吴兴覆瓿罂。

Referring to the southward movement of the Jin imperial court, and to the fact that the territory was still not in peace because many warlords were fighting with the government.

太宁初童谣

晋书五行志中

恻恻力力。放马山侧。大马死。小马饿。高山崩。石自破。

A children's song referring to how one dominant official and his brother in the imperial court were jeopardizing the system. However, they eventually lost power and were executed.

成帝末童谣

晋书五行志中

磕磕何隆隆。驾车入梓宫。

A children's song referring to the emperor's tardiness in attending to his work; meanwhile, there was much stormy weather which offered little sunlight.

咸康初河北谣

晋书五行志中

麦入土。杀石武。

A folk song accurately predicting the execution of Shi Wu.

石头民为庾亮歌二则

晋书五行志中

庾公上武昌。翩翩如飞鸟。庾公还扬州。白马牵旒旐。

庾公初上时。翩翩如飞鸟。庾公还扬州。白马牵流苏。

A song sung by people in Wu Chang, praising the general Yu Liang whose army was stationed there.

阿子歌

晋书五行志中

阿子闻。阿子汝闻不。

A children's song referring to the imminent death of the emperor, mimicking the crying of the empress' mother: "My son, you heard me. My son, do you not hear me?"

升平末廉歌

晋书五行志中

白门廉。宫庭廉。

A folk song saying that the curtain of the imperial court was white in color. Soon after the song was spread, the emperor died.

隆和初童谣二则

晋书五行志中

升平不满斗。隆和那得久。桓公入石头。陛下徒跣走。

岁复改兴宁。亦复无聊生。

Two children's songs predicting the short life of the new emperor and complaining about the bad living conditions that continued even after the emperor changed to an auspicious era name.

太和末童谣

晋书五行志中

犁牛耕御路。白门种小麦。

A children's song referring to how life had become so bad that people were planting wheat for food right on their doorstep literally. Farm cows were therefore plowing the road leading to the imperial palace.

荆州百姓歌二则

晋书五行志中

黄昙子曲中。

黄昙英扬州。大佛来上明。

Two folk songs by Jing Zhou people predicting the death of their current governor and the coming of their new governor. Indeed, the predictions came to be true.

太元末京口谣

晋书五行志中

黄雌鸡。莫作雄父啼。一旦去毛衣。衣被拉飒栖。

A folk song referring to fighting between warlords.

历阳百姓歌

晋书五行志中

重罗黎。重罗黎。使君南上无还时。

A song sung by people of Li Yang referring to the general Yu Kai when he was stationed in their county. He was later killed by Huan Xuan when Yu somehow went south to depend on Huan, as predicted in the song.

荆州童谣

晋书五行志中

芒笼日。绳缚腹。殷当败。桓当复。

A folk song predicting the rise of one warlord and the demise of another. Somehow the prediction came true.

京口民谣

晋书五行志中

昔年食白饭。今年食麦麸。天公诛谴汝。教汝捻咙喉。

咙喉喝复喝。京口败复败。

A folk song referring to the temporary victory of one warlord and his eventual death.

又京口民谣

晋书五行志中

黄头小儿欲作贼。阿公在城下指缚得。

黄头小儿欲作乱。赖得金刀作藩扞。

A folk song indicating one warlord's intention of starting a war in order to gain control over some territory.

懊恼歌

晋书五行志中

草生可搅结。女儿可搅撷。

A folk song expressing the sorrow that people have over the fate of warlord Huan Xuan's concubines and the children and servants of his associates after Huan Xuan lost control over the territory that he conquered. These women and children were given as rewards to the military personnel who participated in defeating Huan Xuan.

桓玄时童谣

晋书五行志中

草生及马腹。鸟啄桓玄目。

A children's song predicting the time of the death of Huan Xuan. He died at the time predicted.

义熙初童谣

晋书五行志中

官家养芦化成荻。芦生不止自成积。

A children's song predicting the rise of a warlord who was spoiled by the court with a title, money, and territory. The song also predicted his demise, as a result of which many people would lose their lives.

广州人谣

晋书五行志中

芦生漫漫竟天半。

A folk song sung by people in Guang Zhou describing the immense territory that Lu Long, who was the same warlord as in 0358, had control over.

义熙初小儿语

晋书五行志中

卢健健。斗叹。斗叹。翁年老。翁年老。

These were words that children said to one another at some point during Jin dynasty within the territory of Lu Long. At the time, people were said to not understand why these words were spoken. The words were a prediction both of the trouble Lu Long was creating for the government and of his eventual demise.

又义熙初谣

晋书五行志中

卢橙橙。逐水流。东风忽如起。那得入石头。

A song predicting the demise of Lu Long.

苻坚初童谣

晋书五行志中

阿坚连牵三十年。后若欲败时。当在江湖边。

A children's song predicting the warlord Fu Jian's thirty-year-long success and his eventual loss in one key battle at the shore of Fei river. The amazing thing was that these predictions all came true.

苻坚时新城谣

晋书五行志中

河水清复清。苻坚死新城。

A song sung in Xin Cheng during Fu Jian's reign over a certain part of Northern China. The rumor said that Fu Jian would die in Xin Cheng, and it came to be true.

苻坚时鱼羊谣

晋书五行志中

鱼羊田千当灭秦。

A song saying that Fu Jian's regime would be destroyed by the Xian Bei tribe which Fu Jian defying his advisor's advice, did nto eliminate completely.

时人为王祥歌

晋书王祥传

海沂之康。实赖王祥。邦国不空。别驾之功。

A folk song praising the good government of the thirty-year hermit Wang Xiang, who came out to work for Lu Qian Xi in governing Xu Zhou.

时人为石苞语

晋书石苞传

石仲荣。姣无双。

Words describing the unparalleled good looks and wisdom of the man Shi Pao.

时人为欧阳建语

晋书欧阳建传

渤海赫赫。欧阳坚石。

Words referring to the talent of Ou Yang Jian.

时人为羊祜语

晋书羊祜传

二王当国。羊公无德。

Words referring to how two officials with the surname Wang were the main critics of one official Yang Hu.

杜预军中谣

晋书杜预传

以计代战﹑一当万。

A song sung in General Du Yu's camp. The words said that good military strategies could win a battle without actually fighting the battle.

南土为杜预歌

晋书杜预传

后世无叛由杜翁。孰识智名与勇功。

A song sung in Southern China praising the good work of Du Yu. The words said that even posterity would benefit from his work, and that Du Yu had both courage and wisdom.

时人为裴秀语

晋书裴秀传

后进领秀﹑有裴秀。

Of the newly arising young leaders, there is Pei Xiu.

时人为卫玠语

晋书卫玠传

卫玠谈道。平子绝倒。

Words referring to how Wang Ping Zi totally admired Wei Jie's knowledge of Daoism.

幽州民为枣嵩谣

晋书王浚传

十囊五囊﹑入枣郎。

Words referring to how the governor of You Zhou, Wang Jun was using his son-in-law as an official; the governor was not capable of really penalizing his son-in-law when he made mistakes.

幽州民为王浚谣

晋书王浚传

幽州城门似藏户。中有伏尸王彭祖。

A song sung by people of You Zhou about the death of their governor Wang Jun.

京都为荀闿语

晋书荀闿传

洛中英英﹑荀道明。

Words praising the talent of one man Xun Kai.

魏泰始中谣

晋书贾充传

贾裴王。乱纪纲。王裴贾。济天下。

A folk song citing three man as responsible for the ending of Wei dynasty and yet equally responsible for the good work they had done for the new Jin dynasty.

襄阳童儿为山简歌

晋书山简传

山公出何许。往至高阳池。日夕倒载归﹑酩酊无所知。

时时能骑马。倒着白接樆。举鞭向葛疆﹑何如并州见。

A children's song referring to the irresponsible life style of the alcoholic General Shan Jian in Xiang Yang.

三魏为刘毅语

晋书刘毅传

但闻刘功曹。不闻杜府君。

We have heard only about the personnel officer Liu, and never about the mayor Du Shu.

孙尹引谚

晋书刘毅传

受尧之诛。不能称尧。

A proverb stating that if one were to be penalized in any way by one's superior, one would have no good words to say about that superior.

时人为崔洪语

晋书崔洪传

丛生荆刺。来自博陵。在南为鹞。在北为鹰。

Words referring to the tough judiciary officer Cui Hong.

广陵人为刘氏语

晋书刘颂传

雷蒋谷鲁。刘最为祖。

The surname that appeared earliest was Liu; Lei, Jiang, Gu, and Lu all came later.

时人为谢鲲语

晋书谢鲲传

任达不已。幼舆折齿。

Words referring to Xie Kun's frivolous behavior in harassing a beautiful, young neighbor girl who broke her teeth on her loom while dodging his touch.

阳平人为束皙歌

晋书束皙传

束先生。通神明。请天三日甘雨零。

我黍以育。我稷以生。何以畴之。报束长生。

Mr. Shu knew how to communicate with heaven: he prayed for rain for three days and we got rain, so our crops could grow again. May Mr. Shu have a long life.

或人引谚问华谭

晋书华谭传

人之相去。如九牛毛。

The difference between people are really great in terms of the level of their aspirations.

陈留人为江统语

晋书江统传

嶷然稀言﹑江应先。

Jiang Tong is quiet yet he has very far-reaching aspirations.

蜀人为罗尚言

晋书罗尚传

尚之所爱。非邪则佞。尚之所憎。非忠则正。

富拟鲁卫。家成市里。贪如豺狼。无复极已。

蜀贼尚可。罗尚杀我。平西将军。反更为祸。

Words expressing discontent with General Luo Shang, who would only do bad things and kill good people. He was also very greedy about collecting wealth. He was considered to be worse than bandits.

赵王伦僭位时民谚

晋书赵王伦传

貂不足。狗尾续。

Words referring to the unqualified people whom Prince Lun used as officials after he stole the throne.

齐王冏盛时民谚

晋书齐王冏传

着布袙腹。为齐持服。

A folk song predicting the death of Prince Qi. The words are: "wearing a cloth vest, I observe the rules in Prince Qi's funeral."

长沙王乂执权时洛下谣

晋书长沙王乂传

草木萌芽﹑杀长沙。

A folk song predicting the death of Prince Chang Sha. The words said that: "Prince Chang Sha would die when the plants were budding.

京都为二刘语

晋书刘琨传

洛中弈弈。庆孙越石。

Words praising the two Liu brothers.

豫州耆老为祖逖歌

晋书祖逖传

幸哉遗黎免俘虏。三辰既朗遇慈父。

玄酒忘劳甘瓠脯。何以咏恩歌且舞。

Song sung by some old folks who were invited for a meal by the governor of Yu Zhou, General Zu Ti. The song expresses their gratitude toward Zu Ti as though Zu Ti was their parent.

时人为王玟王珣语

晋书王珣传

法护非不佳。僧弥难为兄。

Words praising the equally talented two Wang brothers.

桓温府中为郄超王珣语

晋书郄超传

髯参军。短主簿。能令公喜。能令公怒。

The military advisor Xi Cao who had long sideburns and the secretary Wang Xun who had short hair could really please and anger our master.

荆州三郡民为应詹歌

晋书应詹传

乱离既普。殆为灰朽。侥幸之运。赖兹应后。

岁寒不凋。孤境独守。拯我涂炭。惠隆邱阜。

润同江海。恩犹父母。

A song sung by people in three counties under Ying Zhan's rule. The three counties were the only peaceful territory when the whole country was in chaos.

济阴人为卞氏语

晋书卞壶传

卞氏六龙﹑元仁无双。

There are six dragons (good sons) in the Pian family. The father is unique in being able to produce six good sons.

苻坚国中民谣

晋书桓豁传

谁谓尔坚石打碎。

A folk song making satirical remarks about Fu Jian, whose given name means "being hard." The song said:" who said you are hard, rocks will break you."

时人为谢安郄超王坦之语

晋书王坦之传

大才盘盘﹑谢家安。盛德绝伦郄嘉宾。江东独步王文度。

Words praising three men: Xie An who is greatly talented, Xi Cao who is extremely virtuous, and Wang Tan Zhi whom no one excels.

时人为刘氏昆弟语

晋书刘惔传

洛中雅雅﹑有三碬。

There are three talented brothers in the Luo area.

时人为蔡谟语

晋书蔡谟传

蔡公过浮航。脱带腰舟。

Words describing Cai Muo's overtly cautious personality.

时人为蔡荀诸葛三姓语

晋书诸葛恢传

京都三明各有名。蔡氏儒雅荀﹑葛清。

The three famous men in the capital city, who all had the word Ming in their given name, have their own virtues. Cai Muo is gentle and graceful. Xun Kai and Zhu Ge Hui do not take money unduly.

何穆引鄙语

晋书刘牢之传

高鸟尽。良弓藏。狡兔殚。猎犬烹。

A proverb expressing the idea that just like once the birds in the sky are all gone, the good bows are no longer needed, and once the rabbits have all died, the hounds are not needed and thus are killed as food, when a mission is accomplished, the missionary will be dismissed.

京师为张轨歌

晋书张轨传

凉州大马。横行天下。凉州鸱苕寇贼消。鸱苕翩翩怖杀人。

A folk song describing how the warlord of Liang Zhou was conquering many places and taking many lives in the process.

永嘉中长安谣

晋书张寔传

秦川中﹑血没腕。唯有凉州倚柱观。

A folk song describing how one warlord set out taking his army to help the emperor in trouble in the capital,and was ambushed and annihilated by foreign tribes on the way. No other Chinese warlords who were stationed close by the battlefield came to his assistance.

凉州民谣

晋书张寔传

手莫头。图凉州。

A folk song describing how someone was ambitious in obtaining control of the place, Liang Zhou, by thinking that his given name was in the song. The person who was in power believed the song and killed that man.

姑臧谣

晋书张茂传

鸿从南来雀不惊。谁谓孤鶵尾翅生。高举六翮凤皇鸣。

A folk song describing a warlord who was successful in taking back territories occupied by the foreign tribe Qiang.

泛称引谚

晋书凉后主李歆传

野兽入家。主人将去。

A proverb saying that if wild beasts should enter a home, it is a sign that the owner of the house would have to go.

令狐炽梦白头公言

晋书凉后主李歆传

南风动。吹长木。胡桐椎。不中毂。

Ling Hu Chi had a dream in which an old man with gray hair said to him that a warlord would lose his battles and die. This came to be true.

西州为曲游二姓语

晋书曲 允传

曲与游。牛羊不数头。南开朱门。北望青楼。

Words about the two wealthy households with the two surnames of Qu and You in the Xi Zhou area.

吴郡民为邓攸歌

晋书邓攸传

紞如打五更。鸡鸣天欲曙。邓侯拖不留。谢令推不去。

A song describing how the people in Wu Jun were holding onto the county mayor's boat in order to keep him from leaving the county after he resigned. Yet he got away in the middle of the night after pretending that he was not leaving.

时人为邓攸语

晋书邓攸传

天道无知。使邓伯道无儿。

Words describing how unfair it was for such a good person as Deng You to have no sons, after he had to give up his son in order to reduce his burden in an attempt to savehis brother, while they were on the road, escaping from wars.

时人为泛氏号

晋书泛毓传

儿无常父。衣无常主。

Words talking about how Fan Yu was usually not home, and therefore his sons had no father usually, and his clothes were not worn usually.

鲁褒引谚

晋书鲁褒传

钱无耳。可使鬼。

A proverb stating that money can make everything happen, including making ghosts do things.

祈嘉夜闻人呼语

晋书祈嘉传

祈孔宾。祈孔宾。隐去来。隐去来。修饰人世。

甚苦不可谐。所得未毛铢。所丧如山崖。

Qi Jia heard someone talking to him in the middle of the night, telling him to become a hermit,and he did.

佛图澄吟

晋书佛图澄传

殿乎殿乎。棘子成林。将坏人衣。

Fo Tu Cheng said something about the courtyard of the palace having thorny bushes that wouldtear people's clothing. He was actually hinting that a warlord whose name included the wordthorn would do harm, and so it happened.

杜有道妻引谚

晋书杜有道妻严氏传

忍辱至三公。

A proverb saying that only forbearance could lead one to success.

苻坚妾引谚

晋书苻坚妾张氏传

鸡夜鸣者﹑不利行师。犬群嗥者﹑宫室必空。

兵动马惊﹑兵败不归。

The warlord Fu Jian's wife telling him some military strategic principles, but he would not listen,since those were words of a woman, and he was defeated in battle. She killed herself after hisloss.

西州谚

晋书凉武昭王李玄盛后尹氏传

李尹王敦煌。

The real king of Dun Huan is the wife of Li Xuan Sheng. THis refers to how the wife of Li XuanSheng helped to govern Xi Zhou.

时人为王氏语

晋书王敦传

王与马。共天下。

The wangs and Mas share the world. This refers to how the Wangs did a great deal with thegoverning of the south of Yang Tzi River for the Jin dynasty emperors, whose court fled to thatarea after the north was taken over by northern tribes.

熊甫为王敦歌

晋书沉充传

徂风飙起盖山陵。氛雾蔽日玉石焚。

往事既去可长叹。念别惆怅复会难。

A song sung by Xiong Fu when he had to leave the post given him by WaAng Dun, who tookl inanother person who had won the competition for Wang's favors.

桓玄时童谣

晋书桓玄传

长干巷。巷长干。今年杀郎君。后年斩诸桓。

A folk song foretelling the failure and death of Huan Xuan.

陇上为陈安歌

晋书南阳王保传

陇上壮士有陈安。躯干虽小腹中宽。

爱养将士同心肝。騄骢父马铁瑕鞍。

七尺大刀奋如湍。丈八蛇矛左右盘。

十荡十决无当前。百骑俱出如云浮。

追者千万骑悠悠。战始三交失蛇矛。

十骑俱荡九骑留。弃我騄骢窜岩幽。

天大降雨追者休。为我外援而悬头。

西流之水东流河。一去不还奈子何。

阿呼呜呼奈子何。呜呼阿呼奈子何。

A song describing the general Chen An, who was strong and ambidextrous with a long spear on the right and a huge cleaver on the left. He was renowned for treating his warriors well. He died because of a political set up.

孙机为刘曜歌

晋书刘曜载记

仆谷王。关右称帝皇。当持重。保土疆。

轻用兵。败洛阳。祚运穷。天所亡。

开大分。持一觞。

A song sung by an old man Sun Ji explaining what went wrong with Lui Yao's policies. Liu Yaowas a warlord who should not have over-expanded his territory while the present territory was not yet governed well.

陇右民谣

晋书苻洪载记

雨若不止。洪水必起。

If the rain does not stop, a flood will come.

长安民谣

晋书苻生载记

东海大鱼化为龙。男便为王女为公。问在何所洛门东。

A folk song that relates the slaughter of the entire Yu (literally fish) family. The song involves fish turning into dragon (the symbol of an emperor), giving the reason why the Yu family gotkilled by the warlord Fu Sheng.

又长安民谣

晋书苻生载记

百里望空城。

郁郁何青青。瞎儿不知法。仰不见天星。

A folk song about the ignorance and brutality of Fu Sheng, who was blind; thus half of the song says: the blind child does not know any rule and he can not see the stars when he raises his head.

苻坚引谚

晋书苻坚载记

欲人勿知。莫若勿为。欲人不闻。莫若不言。

If one does not want others to know what one does, one might as well not do those things. If one does not want others to know certain things, one might as well not tell them in the first place.

苻坚引谚论桓温

晋书苻坚载记

怒其室而作色于父。

Being angry with one's wife and taking it out on one's parents.

长安民为苻坚歌

晋书苻坚载记

长安大街。夹树杨槐。下走朱轮。上有鸾栖。

英彦云集。诲我萌黎。

A song sung by people in Chang An expressing their compliments to Fu Jian, the warlord who governed his territory well by using a good advisor named Wang Meng and by establishinggood schools.

慕容垂引谚

晋书苻坚载记

凭天俟时。

A proverb regarding relying on the heaven God and waiting for the right time. This was what Mu Rong Chui said to Fu Jian to encourage him to expand his territory.

苻坚时民谣

晋书苻坚载记

坚不出项。

Fu Jian should have insisted on staying in the city of Xiang. Fu Jian left Xiang to try to conquerother territories, but his attempt failed.

长安为慕容冲歌

晋书苻坚载记

一雌复一雄。双飞入紫宫。

A song referring to the bisexual affair of Fu Jian who took on a fourteen year old girl and her twelve year old brother. Fu Jian was advised by his chief advisor Wang Meng to leave the boy.

长安为凤凰谣

晋书苻坚载记

凤凰凤凰﹑止阿房。

A folk song referring to the homosexual partner of Fu Jian.

关东谣

晋书苻坚载记

幽州缺。生当灭。若不灭。百姓绝。

A folk song referring to the mass death of civilians caused by the long-term warfare between two warlords. It was said that people were eating other people as food during that time.

长安民谣

晋书苻坚载记

坚入五将山长得。

A folk song that refers to the death of Fu Jian.

长安民语

晋书苻坚载记

欲得必存﹑当举烟。

Words referring to how Fu Jian took complaints from people living within his territory.

又长安民谣

晋书苻坚载记

长鞘马鞭击左股。太岁南行当复虏。

A folk saying referring to the rise of another tribe in Northern China.

赵整援琴歌

晋书苻坚载记

阿得脂。阿得脂。博劳旧父是仇绥。尾长翼短不能飞。

远徒种人留鲜卑。一旦缓急语阿谁。

A song sung by Zhao Zheng advising Fu Jian of his bad policy of sending away people of his own tribe to different key military sites. The song said that if things should go wrong in the capital, all Fu Jian's own people would be too far away to come to its assistance.

西海民谣

晋书吕光载记

朔马心何悲。念旧中心劳。燕雀何徘徊。意欲还故巢。

A folk song referring to how much people of Xi Hai wished to go back to their homeland afterthey were ordered to resettle in different places. They did go home eventually.

后燕民谣

晋书慕容熙载记

一束稿。两头然。秃头小儿来灭燕。

A folk song that foretold the death of the warlord Mu Rong Xi.

慕容德时民谣

晋书慕容德载记

大风蓬勃扬尘埃。八井三刀卒起来。

四海鼎沸中山颓。惟有德人据三台。

A folk song referring to the enthronement of a warlord.

姚兴引谚

晋书慕容超载记

妍皮不裹痴骨。

A proverb referring to how no good-looking appearance would conceal low intelligence.

南燕人为公孙五楼语

晋书慕容超载记

欲得侯。事五楼。

Words people say about how one ought to have the right connection to acquire things.

晋惠帝时洛阳童谣

晋书逸文

邺中女子莫千妖。前至三月抱胡腰。

A children's song referring to the uprising of a foreign tribe in Northern China at the end of Jin dynasty.

王敦将灭时童谣

晋书逸文

翦韭翦韭﹑断杨柳。河东小子﹑令我与子。

A children's song referring to the frequent uprising of bandits.

襄国童谣

晋书逸文

古在左。月在右。让去言。或入口。

A children's song predicting that Xiang would become the capital of the warlord Shi Le's kingdom.

赵整琴歌

晋书逸文

昔闻明津河。千里作一曲。此水本自清。是谁乱使浊。

此园有枣树。布叶垂重阴。外虽多棘刺。内实有赤心。

A song referring to how the warlord Fu Jian eventually neglected his duty as the ruler of his territory.

卷九

时人为丁午语

宋书武帝纪

勿跋扈。付丁【午】。

Ding Wu was someone who was physically strong. He was the ultimate hit man of his time. These words are just saying that one should watch out not to be too demanding and manipulating or else Ding Wu might be brought to set one straight.

读曲歌

宋书乐志

死罪刘领军。误杀刘第四。

A song referring to how Prince Yi Kang was executed because of general Liu's wrongdoing.

元嘉中谣言

宋书符瑞志

钱唐当出天子。

A rumor about how there would be an emperor who would be enthroned at Qian Tang, which was in fact a mistake for Chan Tang (a Zen meditation hall).

永光初谣言

宋书符瑞志

湘州出天子。

A rumor stating how there would be an emperor coming out of Xiang Zhou.

民间为谢灵运谣

宋书五行志一

四人挈衣裙。三人捉作席。

A folk song referring to how Xie Ling Yun was not too prudent inchoosing those with whom he associated. Eventually death came upon him.

晋时吴中为庾义王洽谣

宋书五行志二

宁食下湖荇。不食上湖莼。庾吴没命丧。复杀王领军。

A folk song that foretold the death of Yu Yi and Wang Qia.

晋桓玄篡时民谣语

宋书五行志二

征钟落地桓迸走。

Folk tale referring to Huan Xuan's taking over the throne as an subordinate to his emperor.

京邑为何勖孟灵休语

宋书徐湛之传

安成食。临汝师。

The most extravagant regarding food is He Xu, and the most extravagant regarding clothing is Meng Ling Xiu.

颜延之引谚

宋书颜延之传

富则盛。贫则病。

A wealthy person is necessarily prosperous, a poor person is necessarily having hardships.

臧质引童谣

宋书臧质传

虏马饮江水。佛狸死卯年。

Zang Zhi refers to a children's song in his letter to his enemy Tuo Ba Xi, saying the reason they are in a standoff with each other, without any breakthrough for either side, is that the time for a final resolution has not come.

魏童谣

宋书臧质传

轺车北来如穿雉。不意虏马引江水。

虏主北归石济死。虏欲渡江天不徙。

A children's song elaborating on the event in the last item, saying that Tuo Ba Xi would not succeed in his military strike against Zang Zhi. This song really angered Tuo Ba Xi.

时人为颜竣谢庄语

宋书颜竣传

颜郡嗔而与人官。谢庄笑而不与人官。

Words about Yan Jun and Xie Zhuang, who held the same post in the defense department successively. The former may have harsh looks on his face yet he managed to get many people jobs, the latter seemed very amiable and was good looking, yet he could not get jobs for people.

南豫州军士为王玄谟宗越语

宋书王玄谟传

宁作五年徒。莫逢王玄谟。玄谟犹自可。宗越更杀我。

Words said by soldiers of the Nan Yu area concerning their two superiors. Wang Xuan Muo was harsh but still bearable, Zong Yue was worse in that he could really hurt.

民间为奚显度谣

宋书戴明宝传

宁得建康压额。不能受奚度拍。

勿反顾。付奚度。

Songs sung concerning the extreme capacity for cruelty that Xi Du, who was a warden in a labor camp, had for convicts.

虏中谣言

宋书索虏传

灭虏者吴也。

Rumor about the victory of one warlord over another.

京师为东安斗场二寺僧语

宋书天竺国传

斗场禅师窟。东安谈义林。

The Duo Chang temple was filled with Zen masters, whereas in Dong An temple, the monastic talked about doctrines.

晋世杯盘歌

南齐书乐志

舞杯盘。何翩翩。举坐翻复寿万年。

齐世昌。四海安乐齐太平。

人命长。当结久。千秋万岁皆老寿。

A song that contains words criticizing the intellectuals of the Jin dynasty for indulging in food and drinks rather than attending to the affairs of the nation.

吴黄龙中童谣

南齐书乐志

行白者。君追汝。句骊马。

A song referring to the strike of one warlord against another.

宋泰使中童谣

南齐书符祥瑞志

东城出天子。

A children's song indicating from where the next emperor would originate. Inevitably some prince was mistaken as that potential emperor and was killed.

宋元徽中童谣

南齐书五行志

襄阳白铜蹄。郎杀荆州儿。

A children's song predicting the slaying of one warlord's son by another warlord. It came to be true

永明初百姓歌

南齐书五行志

白马向城啼。欲得城边草。【】陶郎来。

A folk song predicting the uprising of a warlord.

永明中虏中童谣

南齐书五行志

黑水流北。赤火入齐。

A children's song describing the popularity of a miracle cure of all diseases with the flame of fire.

永元元年童谣

南齐书五行志

洋洋千里流。流翣东城头。乌马乌皮裤。三更相告诉。

脚跛不得起。误杀老姥子。

A children's song about the uprising of one warlord and the slaying of another.

永元中童谣

南齐书五行志

野猪虽嗃嗃。马子空闾渠。不知龙与虎。饮食江南墟。

七九六十三。广莫人无余。乌集传舍头。今汝得宽休。

但看三八后。摧折景阳楼。

A children's song about the wars between four different warlords in a twenty-four year period.

时人为桓康语

南齐书桓康传

欲侜张。 问桓康。

If one wants to lie, one ought to get tips on lying from Huan Kang.

荀伯玉闻青衣小儿语

南齐书荀伯玉传

草中肃。 九五相追逐。

Words Xun Buo Yu heard that two little boys in blue outfits said about him. The words foretold his being banished to an uncultivated area.

时人为荀伯玉语

南齐书荀伯玉传

十敕五令。 不如荀伯玉命。

Ten amnesties and five orders were less useful than one single command from Xun Buo Yu. These words indicate how powerful Xun Buo Yu was for some time.

时人为王延之王僧虔语

南齐书王延之传

二王持平。 不送不迎。

Wang Yan Zhi and Wang Seng Qian were not holding any jobs and not trying to bribe or flatter their way into getting jobs, either.

时人为萧晃语

南齐书长沙威王晃传

焕焕﹑萧四伞。

Words describing the majestic appearance of Prince Xiao Huang's army against a warlord.

顾宪之引俗谚

南齐书顾宪之传

会稽打鼓送恤。 吴与步担林令史。

Gu Xian Zhi referred to an old proverb relating to the reforms needed to be done by his emperor.

时人为刘绘语

南齐书刘绘传

刘绘贴宅。 别开一门。

Words referring to the supreme eloquence of Liu Hui in both tone and style.

卞彬应引谚

南齐书卞彬传

朝生暮孙。

A proverb referring to the speedy proliferation of fleas.

时人为张氏语

梁书张氏传

充融卷稷。 是为四张。

There are four great scholars in the Zhang family alone.

王足引北方童谣

梁书康绚传

荆山为上格。 浮山为下格。 潼沱为激沟。 并灌钜野泽。

Wang Zu referred to a children's song from the north concerning the necessity of building a dam.

荆州民为始兴王憺歌

梁书始兴忠武王憺传

始兴王。 民之爹。 赴人急。 如水火。 何时复来哺乳我。

A song sung by people of Jing Zhuo in their praise for Pince Shi Xing regarding his outstading performance as their ruler and his compassion for ensuring people's welfare.

时人为张融陆杲语

梁书陆杲传

无对日下。 惟舅与甥。

Words praising two outstanding artists who were an uncle and a nephew to each other.

鄱阳民为陆襄歌

梁书陆襄传

鲜于平后善恶分。 民无枉死。 赖有陆君。

A song sung by people of Buo Yang praising Lu Xiang for his righteous and fair rule.

鄱阳民又为陆襄歌

梁书陆襄传

陆君箴政。 无怨家。 斗即罢。雠共车。

Another song sung by the people of Buo Yang about how competent Lu Xiang was in serving as an arbitrator and setting the scores between two foes, who made up and could even ride home in the same vehicle.

豫州民为夏侯兄弟歌

梁书夏侯亶传

我之有州。频仍夏侯。 前兄后弟。 布政优优。

A song sung by people of Yu Zhuo concerning the two good governers who were brothers to each other. They served Yu Zhuo successively.

洛阳童谣

梁书陈庆之传

名师大将莫自牢。 千兵万马避白袍。

A children's song sung in Luo Yang praising the eternally victorious army under General Chen Qing Zhi.

时人为王谢二姓语

梁书王筠传

谢有览举。 王有养炬。

Words about four talented scholars: Wang Yun and Wang Tai who were cousins to each other and Xie Lan and Xie Ju who were brothers to each other.

省中为贺琛语

梁 书贺琛传

上殿不下﹑有贺雅。

Words about He Chen, who was favored by the emperor and was summoned for long visits with the emperor all the time.

时人为何子朗语

梁书何思澄传

东海三何。 子朗最多。

Among the three talented scholars in Tong Hai, He Zi Lang was the most outstanding.

时人又为何子朗语

梁书何思澄传

人中爽爽﹑何子朗。

More words praising He Zi Lang.

山阴民为丘仲孚谣

梁书丘仲孚传

二傅沉刘。 不如一丘。

All the previous governers of Shan Yin were not as good as Qiou Zhong Fu.

普通中童谣

梁书侯景传

青丝白马寿阳来。

A children's song foretelling the victory of a warlord, Huo Jing.

杨白花歌

梁书逸文

阳春二三月。 杨柳齐怍花。春风一夜入闺闼。

杨花飘荡落南家。含情出户脚无力。 拾得杨花泪沾臆。

秋去春来双燕子。 愿衔杨花入窠裹。

A song Empress Hu of Wei dynasty ordered to be sung by her servants. The song expresses her intense love and feelings for a handsome and strong young man, Young Bai Hua.

时人为张氏语

陈书张种传

宋称敷演。梁则卷充。 虚学尚。 种有其风。

Words about outstanding scholars from the Zhang family through the Song and Liang dynasties.

卷十

时人为诘汾力微二帝谚

魏书序纪

诘汾皇帝无妇家。 力微皇帝无舅家。

Words about Emperor Jie Fen who was supposed to have a wife from heaven, and therefore he did not really have a wife, and his son, Emperor Li Wei, did not have a uncle on the mother side.

时人为李崇元融语

魏书宣武灵皇后胡氏传

陈留章武。伤迁折股。贪人败类。檅我明主。

Li Cong and Yuan Rong injured their legs and waists by loading too much cloth on them. (The emperor said they could keep all the cloth they could take out of the court.) Greedy people like them had besmirched the lustrous emperor.

时人为安丰中山济南三王语

魏书临话淮王谭传

三王楚琳琅。未若济南备圆方。

All three princes, An Fong, Zhong Shan and Ji Nan, were all good, but Prince Ji Nan was perfect in every way.

时人为元颐元钦语

魏书阳平王新成传

皇宗略略。寿安思若。

Among the princes that were outstanding, there were Yuan Yi and Yuan Qin.

咸阳宫人为咸阳王禧歌

魏书咸阳王禧传

可怜咸阳王。 奈何作事误。 金床玉几不能眠。

夜蹋霜与露。洛水湛湛弥岸长。行人那得渡。

Songs sung by servants of Prince Xian Yang about how he planned to overthrow the emperor but failed, and was "awarded" death by the emperor.

时人为王嶷语

魏书王嶷传

实痴实昏。 终得保存。

One could only survive the imperial system of government by being really stupid and incompetent.

雍州民为公孙轨语

魏书公孙轨传

驴无疆弱。 辅脊自壮。

There was no difference in the strength of all donkeys. Once things were put on their backs, they could all manage.

时人为王遵业王延明语

魏书王遵业传

英英济济。 王家兄弟。

The Wang brothers were all outstanding.

桑干乡里为房景伯语

魏书房景伯传

有义有礼。 房家兄弟。

The Pang brothers were pious about following the due manners regarding the treatment of one's brothers.

高允引谚

魏书高允传

其益如毫。其损如刀。

The benefit of drinking alcohol is very minimal and the harm of it is as bad as what a knife can do.

赵郡邻郡为李曾谣

魏书李孝伯传

诈作赵郡鹿。 犹胜常山粟。

Words about a county official Li Zeng, who was able to rule the county with a zero crime rate.

广平百姓为李波小妹语

魏书李安世传。

李波小妹字雍容。 褰裙逐马如卷蓬。 左射右射必叠双。

妇女尚如此。 男子那可逢。

Li Buo's little sister was a good archer. Even the women of the Li family were skilled in battle,let alone the men.

高祖与侍臣续歌

魏书郑道昭传

白日光天无不曜。 江左一隅独未照。 愿从圣明兮登衡会。

万国驰诚混内外。云雷大振兮天门辟。 率土来宾一正历。

舜舞干戚兮天下归。文德远被莫不思。 皇风一鼓兮九地匝。

戴日依天清六合。 遵彼汝坟兮昔化贞。 未若今日道风明。

文王政教兮晖江沼。 宁如大化光四表。

Songs sung by the emperor of Wei and his subjects. The songs were about how well they were doing with conquering territories and establishing their dominion.

时人为崔楷语

魏书崔楷传

莫廌獬。 付崔楷。

Words about how Cui Kai was very tough in terms of defeating strong opponents.

李彪引谚

魏书李彪传

一日不书。 百日荒芜。

If there was a day that history was not recorded, then the history of one hundred days would be in peril.

邢恋引俗谚

魏书邢恋传

耕则问田奴。 绢则问织婢。

One should consult farm slaves regarding farming, and consult weaving slaves concerning weaving.

洛中童谣二则

魏书尔朱彦伯传

三月末。 四月初。 扬灰簸土觅真珠。

头去项。 脚根齐。 驱上树。 不须梯。

A children's song that predicted the death of two officials.

高谦之引谚

魏书高谦之传

迷而知反。 得道未远。

If one knows to turn back when one goes astray, then one is not too far from finding the correct path.

张普惠引谚

魏书张普惠传

唯乱门之无过。

No matter what one does, one should never even go pass a household in which there is a chaos goign on in case one gets involved with any trouble.

时人为祖莹袁翻语

魏书祖莹传

京师楚楚﹑袁与祖。 洛中翩翩﹑祖与袁。

In the capital city of Luo Yang, there were Zu Ying and Yuan Fan who were outstanding.

同门生为李谧语

魏书李谧语

青成蓝。 蓝谢青。 师何常。 在明经。

Words praising Li Mi, who was a student of Kong Pan and became better than Kong Pan. The teacher and student relationship is not permanent. Whoever knows more about something is necessarily the teacher.

蜀中民为李势谣二则

魏书賨李势传

江桥头。 阙下市。 成都北门十八子。

有客有客。 来侵门陌。其气欲索。

Two folk songs in Si Chuan which foretold the invasion by Huan Wen.

时人为刘卲刘骏语

魏书岛夷刘义隆传

遥望建康城。 江水逆流萦。 前见子杀父。 后见弟杀兄。

Words about the internal strife in the imperial court among potential emperors. In this struggle, a son would kill his father and a younger brother would kill his older brother.

凉州民谣

魏书私署凉州牧张寔传

蛇利炮。 蛇利炮。 公头坠地而不觉。

A folk song in Liang Zhou about its warlord Zhang Shi who were having visions of a man without a head in his bed room. Soon after that, he did get killed by his subordinates.

凉州民为宋氏谣

魏书私署凉州牧张玄靖传

灭宋者田土子。

A folk song in Laing Zhou about who would kill General Song.

凉州民为张氏谣

魏书私署凉州牧张天锡传

刘新妇簸米。石新妇炊羖羝。 荡涤簸张儿。

张儿食之口真正披。

A folk song sung by people of Liang Zhou concerning who would defeat Zhang Tian Si and take over Laing Zhou.

北方女为倍侯利谣

魏书高车国传

求良夫当如倍侯。

A good husband should be like Bei Huo Li.

魏孝明帝时洛下谣言

北齐书神武纪上

铜拔打铁拔。 元家世将末。

Rumor about how it was the end of the Wei dynasty of the Yuan family.

魏静帝时童谣

北齐书神武纪下

可怜青雀子。 飞来邺城里。 羽翮垂欲成。 化作鹦鹉子。

A children's song predicting the split of teh territory of the Wei dynasty into two chunks, with its power falling into the hands of the chief of staff, Shen Wu.

魏武定末童谣

北齐书文襄纪

百尺高张竿摧折。 水底燃灯灯灭。

A children's song predicting the death of Shen Wu and his oldest son.

文襄时谣言

北齐书文襄纪

软脱帽。 床底喘。

A rumor predicting the slaying of Wen Xiang by his food servant.

北齐末童戏唱

北齐书后主纪

高末。

The end of height. A phrase said by children jumping ropes. The Chinese character for height, Gao, is the same as the last name of the ruling emperor.

武成时童谣

北齐书神武娄后传

九龙母死不作孝。

When the mother of the ninth Prince died, the ninth Prince would not mourn her death.

后主时童谣

北齐书后主穆后传

黄花势欲落。 清觞满杯酌。

A children's song indicating the fall of Northern Qi dynasty, starting with Ms. Mu becoming the empress and the emperor drinking too much.

斛律光引鄙谚

北齐书琅邪王俨传

奴见大家心死。

A slang expression indicating that servants' rebellion against their master is doomed to failure. As soon as the rebelling servants see their master, they scatter and run away.

孝昭时童谣

北齐书上洛王思宗子元海传

中兴寺内白凫翁。 四方侧听声雍雍。 道人闻之夜打钟。

A children's song indicating the disarray among the potential successors of the throne.

惠化尼为窦泰谣

北齐书窦泰传

窦行台。 去不回。

A song predicting the failure of Dou Tai's military operation and his death.

贝州民为刺史司马长史清河令语

北齐书库狄士文传

刺史罗杀政。 司马蝮蛇瞋。 长史含笑判。 清河生吃人。

Words that people of Bei Zhou said about their officials. The Governor was unkind, the Chief of Military affairs was as angry as a serpent, the only kind person was the Secretary, and the local official of Qing He literally devoured people alive.

时人为陈元康语

北齐书陈元康传

三崔二张。 不如一康。

Among the emperor's advisors, Chen Yaun Kang is better than the three Mr. Cui's and two Mr. Zhang's put together.

兖州民为郑父子歌

北齐书郑述祖传

大郑公。 小郑公。 相去五十载。 风教犹尚同。

A song that people of Dui Zhou sang for their two officials, Zheng Dao Zhao and Zheng Shu Zu who governed the place successively and were both very kind to the people and competent at doing their jobs.

邺下为睦仲让语

北齐书崔暹传

讲义两行﹑得中郎。

Words said by people of Yie about how Mu Zhong Rang got a government job by flattering an official's son.

徐之范引童谣

北齐书徐之才传

周里跂求伽。 豹祠嫁石婆。 斩冢作媒人。 唯得一量紫綎靴。

A children's song indicating the imminent death of the empress.

时人为唐邕白建言

北齐书徐之才传

并州赫赫﹑唐与白。

Currently in Bian Zhou, Tang Yong and Bai Jian are powerful.

齐废帝时童谣三则

北齐书杨愔传

白羊头尾秃。羖【历】头生角。

羊羊吃野草。 不吃野草远我道。 不远打尔脑。

阿么姑﹑祸也。 道人姑﹑夫死也。

Three children's songs indicating the misfortune and eventual death of Yang Yin despite despite his marriage to a Princess and his ability to manage the court business well.

省中为裴让之语

北齐书裴让之传

能赋诗。 裴让之。

The person who truly could write poems was Pei Rang Zhi.

时人为裴皇甫二姓兄弟语

北齐书裴让之次弟诹之传

诹胜于让。 和不如亮。

Pei Zou Zhi is better than his older brother Pei Rang Zhi, and Huang Fu Laing is also better than his older brother Haung Fu He.

时人为冯祖赵三氏子语

北齐书赵彦深传

冯祖及赵。 秽我凤池。

The officials who were contaminating our court are Mr. Fong, Mr. Zu and Mr. Zhao.

清河民为曲堤成姓语

北齐书宋世良传

宁度东吴会稽。 不历成公曲堤。

We would rather go across Gui Ji and not cross Qu Ti, since bandits gather at the latter place.

清河民为宋世良谣

北齐书宋世良传

曲堤虽险贼何益。 但有宋公自屏迹。

Although Qu Ti has many bandits, as long as Governor Song is with us, they will not come around here to bother us.

时人为苏珍之宋世轨语

北齐书宋世轨传

决定嫌疑﹑苏珍之。 视表见里﹑宋世轨。

Su Zhen Zhi and Song Shi Gui are both good judges.

济北民为崔伯谦歌

北齐书崔伯谦传

崔府君。 能治政。易鞭鞭。 布威德。 民无争。

Mr. Cui is a good official, since not only is he competent, he is also kind to the people. People therefore could live peacefully together.

京师为苏琼语

北齐书苏琼传

断决无疑﹑苏珍之。

Su Zhen Zhi is such a good judge that his judgements are never mistaken.

御史台中为宋游道语

北齐书宋游道传

见贼能讨﹑宋游道。

Song You Dao can really tell who the bad people are, and then serve them right.

时人为宋游道陆操语

北齐书宋游道传

游道猕猴面。 陆操科斗形。 意识不关貌。 何谓丑者必无情。

Both Song You Dao and Lu Cao are ugly, but, one's intelligence has nothing to do with one's appearance. Why should we say that ugly people are necessarily senseless?

阳子术引谣言

北齐书魏宁传

卢十六。 稚十四。 犍子拍头三十二。

A rumor correctly predicting the death of Prince Wu Cheng at age thirty two.

省中为祖珽裴让之语

北齐书逸文

多才多能﹑祖孝征。 能赋能诗﹑裴让之。

Zu Xiao Zheng has many talents. Pei Rang Zhi can write prose and poems well.

相府为裴汉语

周书裴宽传

日下粲烂﹑有裴汉。

Pei Han has lustrous qualities.

河北民为裴侠歌

周书裴侠歌

肥鲜不食。 丁庸不取。 裴公贞惠。 为世规矩。

Pei Xiao is the model official, in that he is not corrupt in any way.

时人为裴诹柳虬语

周书柳虬传

北府裴诹。 南省柳虬。

Pei Zou could manage civil affairs well, while Liu Qiu could manage military affairs well.

诸生为吕思礼语

周书吕思礼传

讲书论易。 其锋难敌。

It is hard to defeat Lu Si Li when debating the content of the scriptures.

梁武帝在雍镇童谣

隋书音乐志上

襄阳白铜蹄。 反缚扬州儿。

A children's song predicting the success of Liang daynasty Emperor Wu's military conquest of Yang Zhou.

陈初童谣

隋书五行志上

黄班青骢马。 发自寿阳涘。 来时冬气末。 去日春风始。

A children's song predicting the elimination of the Chen kingdom by Han Qin.

齐神武时邺中童谣

隋书五行志上

可怜青雀子。 飞入邺城里。 作窠犹未成。 举头失乡里。

寄书与妇母。 好看新妇子。

A children's song describing the disintegration of Qi dynasty.

齐武平元年童谣

隋书五行志上

狐截尾。 你欲除我我除你。

A children's song remarking that everyone is trying to get rid of everyone else in their way.

齐武平二年童谣

隋书五行志上

和士开。 七月三十日。 将你向南台。

A children's song correctly predicting the He Shi Kai's execution.

又齐武平二年童谣

隋书五行志上

七月刈禾伤早。 九月吃糕正好。

十月洗荡饭瓮。 十一月出却赵老。

A children's song correctly predicting the mishaps of some government officials.

齐武平末邺中童谣

隋书五行志上

金作扫帚玉作把。 净扫殿屋迎西家。

A children's song predicting the conquest of Yei by the army of the Zhou kingdom.

周初童谣

隋书五行志上

白杨树头金鸡鸣。 祇有阿舅无外甥。

A children's song predicting that the uncle of the young Zhou emperor would take over the court.

周宣帝语宫人蹋歌

隋书五行志上

自知身命促。 把烛夜行游。

I know I will not live for long, therefore I have to play at night with the candles lit. A song sungby the Zhou emperor, who died three years after being enthroned.

隋炀帝梦二竖子歌

隋书五行志上

住亦死。 去亦死。 未若乘船度江水。

The second emperor of Sui dynasty dreaming of two children singing to him: staying or going, either way you will die. You might as well go across the river by boat. He was murdered soon after this dream.

大业中童谣

隋书五行志上

桃李子。 鸿鹄遶阳山。 宛转花林里。 莫浪语。 谁道许。

A children's song during the Da Yei era. It is about the activities of certain warlords during this time.

长孙览求为周宣帝歌

隋书刑法志

朝亦醉。 暮亦醉。 日日恒常醉。 政事日无次。

Chang Sun Lan Qiu sang a song about Emperor Xuan Di of Zhou: He is constantly drunk and never really attends to government affairs. Chang Sun Lan Qiu was beaten to death by order of the emperor because of this song.

唐史官引谚语论冀州

隋书地理志中

仕官不偶遇冀部。

魏郡清河。 天公无奈何。

Since people from Ji Zhou banded together and protected one another, it was bad for an official to confront anyone from there. Wei Jun and Qing He both had a very bad atmosphere in terms of their residents' indulgence in luxurious lifestyles.

汩罗土人为屈原歌

隋书地理志下

何由得渡湖。

How can we cross the lake? This phrase in a song is referring to the dragon boat festival on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the lunar calendar.

唐史官引梁世谚论史职

隋书经籍志

上车不落﹑则著作。 体中何如﹑则秘书。

Words describing a government historian as someone who would sit on the job and do not much.

时人为刘昉郑译语

隋书刘昉传

刘昉牵前。 郑译推后。

Liu Fang became prominent first in the imperial court and then Zheng Yi became the second after him.

渭州民为豆卢绩谣

隋书豆卢绩传

我有丹阳。 山出玉浆。 济我民夷。 神乌来翔。

A song sung by people of Wei Zhou praising their official Dou Lu Ji.

长孙平引鄙谚

隋书长孙平传

不痴不聋。 未堪作大家翁。

A folk saying suggesting that one should ignore rumors when judging someone.

幽州为卢昌衡卢思道语

隋书卢昌衡传

卢家千里。 释奴龙子。

Words referring the talents of the two brothers in the Lu household.

蜀中为于仲文语

隋书于仲文传

明断无双﹑有于公。 不避强御﹑有次武。

People of Shu praising Yu Zhong Wen on his ability to resolve hard cases and bring about justice by putting even criminals from the privileged class in jail.

赵州民为和平子谣

隋书柳彧传

老禾不早杀。 余种秽良田。

A suggestion that it is a bad practice to put people who are good at military affairs in civil service positions.

陈留老子祠柏树下三童子歌

隋书王劭传

老子庙前古枯树。 东南状如伞。 圣主从此去。

A song sung by three kids under a dead old cedar in front of a Lao Zi shrine. The song said thatwhen new branches should grow, whichever direction the new branch was pointing in was the direction from which a new emperor would come.

相州百姓为樊叔略语

隋书樊叔略传

智无穷。 清乡公。 上下正。 樊安定。

Words by people of Xiang Zhou praising Fan Shu Lui as a very wise and outstanding official.

长安为崔弘度屈突盖语

隋书崔弘度传

宁饮三升酢。 不见崔弘度。 宁茹三升艾。 不逢屈突盖。

One would rather drink three liters of vinegar than meet Cui Hong Du, and one would rather be burned with three liters of Ai grass than meet Qu Tu Gai. These words refer to these two men's harsh and ruthless treatment of people.

时人为何妥萧慎语

隋书何妥传

世有两隽。 白杨何妥。 青杨萧慎。

There are two outstanding people, namely He Tuo and Xiao Shen.

刘炫引谚

隋书刘炫传

老吏抱案死。

Some criminal cases were never solved even when the officers in charge died of old age.

时人为崔儦李若语

隋书崔儦传

京师灼灼。 崔儦李若。

There are two outstanding people in the capital city, namely Cui Biao and Li Ruo.

隋炀帝时童谣

隋书萧岿传

萧萧亦复起。

An imperial descendant from the previous dynasty had a hard time rising to the surface again due to the doubt of the current emperor.

卷十一

时人为胡母颢语

南史宋明帝纪

禾绢开眼诺。 胡母大张橐。

Words referring to a powerful yet very corrupted official in the court at the time.

永明中魏地童谣

南史齐武帝纪

赤火南流丧南国。

A children's song predicting the end of a dynasty.

百姓为东昏侯歌

南史齐废帝东昏侯纪

阅武堂。 种杨柳。 至尊屠肉。 潘妃酤酒。

A song sung by people concerning the last emperor of Qi, who was at his best indulging in silly and unnecessary luxuries and plays.

柳达摩引北方童谣

南史陈武帝纪

石头捣两裆。 捣青复捣黄。

A children's song correctly predicting the difficulties of a military action against the current cityof Nan Jing in the south.

梁时童谣

南史陈武帝纪

虏万夫。 入五湖。 城南酒家使虏奴。

A children's song concerning the failure of a military action by a northern kingdom against a southern kingdom.

陈人为齐云观歌

南史陈后主纪

齐云观。 寇来无际畔。

A song sung by people of the Chen kingdom concerning military personnel whom they thought they could count on, without fearing invasion from other kingdom.

妇人入东宫唱

南史陈后主纪

毕国主。

A song sung by a woman, whose words point to the emperor as the one who would end the Chen dynasty.

李延寿引梁末童谣

南史陈本纪赞

可怜巴马子。 一日行千里。 不见马上郎。

但见黄尘起。 黄尘污人衣。 皂荚相料理。

A children's song predicting the transition from one short-lived dynasty to another.

湘东王府中为鱼弘徐绲谣

南史徐君蒨传。

北路鱼。 南路徐。

Words concerning two very wasteful men of the time.

时人为檀道济歌

南史檀道济传

可怜白浮鸠。 枉杀檀江州。

A song expressing their sorrow regarding the slaying of a general, Tan Dao Ji, and his seven sons, due to a power struggle in the emperor's court.

时人为王志王彬语

南史王志传

三真六草。 为天下宝。

Words praising Wang Zhi and Wang Bin as the greatest calligraphers of their time.

时人为王莹语

南史王莹传

欲向南。 钱可贪。遂向东。 为黄铜。

Words about the great cost for Wang Ying, a high ranking court official, to expand his house southwards. He eventually expanded eastward of his house, which cost a lot less.

百姓为袁粲褚彦回语

南史袁粲传

可怜石头城。 宁为袁粲死。 不作彦回生。

Words about how one should emulate a loyal subject like Yuan Can, who would rather die than serve another emperor which was what Chu Yuan Hui did.

时人为张周刘三姓语

南时刘绘传

三人共宅夹清漳。 张南周北刘中央。

Words referring to the three good writers of the time: Zhang Rong, Zhou Yu, and Liu Hui.

北军中为韦叡语

南史临川静惠王宏传

不畏萧娘语吕姥。 但畏合肥有韦武。

Words said by the military personnel from the Wei dynasty of the north, who were waiting to do a battle with the approaching army of Liang dynasty from the south. They compared the commander-in-chief and the general of the Liang army to women, since these two ordered a retreat without even fighting.

百姓为萧正德父子谣

南史临川王宏子正德传

宁逢五虎入市。不欲见临贺父子。

We would rather confront five tigers in the market than meet Prince Lin He and his son. This is describing the ruthless character of this father and son pair.

梁武帝接民间为萧恪歌

南史南平王恪传

江千万。 蔡五百。 王新车。 庚大宅。 主人愦愦不如客。

Words about how Prince Ke was conned by his house guests who ended up richer than their host.

梁武帝时童谣

南史鄱阳王范传

莫匆匆。 且宽公。 谁当作天子。 草覆车边己。

A children's song may be predicting who would become the next emperor. This song gave Prince Fan a lot of hope.

昭明为太子时谣

南史昭明太子统传

鹿子开城门。 城门鹿子开。 当开复未开。 使我心徘徊。

城中诸少年。 逐欢归去来。

A rumor about how Prince Zhao Ming would die and how Emperor Wu, in his sorrow wouldtake him a long time to decide which of his sons might succeed the post that Prince Zhao Ming had left empty.

巴东行人为庚子舆歌

南史庚城传

淫预如幞本不通。 瞿塘水退为庚公。

A song sung by people who lived along one of the three gorges of Yang Tzi River in present day Si Chuan. This song is about how the water of Qu Tang ebbed for a filial son, Yu Zi Yu, to go across the river on his way taking his father's corpse home.

南州士庶为江革萧昙聪语

南史江革传

故人不道智。 新人佞散骑。 莫如度不度。 新人不如故。

Words about how replacing Jiang Ge with Wang Tan Cong as the official of Nan Zhou was a bad idea. Jiang Ge was replaced simply because he did not flatter people who were close to theemperor.

时人为鲍正语

南史鲍客卿传

无处不逢鸟噪。 无处不逢鲍佐。

Words about three very active, young, talented brothers, Bao Jian, Bao Zheng and Bao Zhi. People met them everywhere they went, just as one hears birds chirping everywhere.

寻阳渔父答孙缅歌

南史隐逸渔父传

竹竿籊籊。 河水浟浟。相忘为乐。 贪饵吞钩。 非夷非惠。

聊以忘忧。

A song sung by a fisherman to Sun Mian, who was advising the fishermen to become a government official. The fisherman's song was this: I am fishing not for the fish or the money, but simply to enjoy the view of the river and forget the worries of life.

时人为沉麟士语

南史隐逸沉麟士传

差山中。 有贤士。 开门教授局城市。

Words about a hermit who lived in the mountains, yet he had disciples who built houses around him, so that eventually it was as if a city surrounded him.

陶弘景歌

南史隐逸陶弘景传

水王木为梁字。

A song sung by a hermit saying that the name of the next dynasty would be Liang.

都下民语

南史恩幸茹法珍传

欲求贵职﹑依刀敕。 须得富豪﹑事(捉)(御)刀。

If one wants to get high paying jobs, one ought to depend on those who are in power. If one wants to get rich, one would have to wait on those who are in power as if they were the emperor.

东昏侯时宫中谣言

南史恩幸茹法珍传

赵鬼食鸭削。 诸鬼尽着调。

A rumor in the court about how those people who in fact ran the court, rather than the emperor, would all be killed and cooked.

侯景时的脰鸟童谣

南史侯景传

的脰鸟。 拂朱雀。 还与吴。

A children's song predicting that Hou Jing's reign would be short-lived.

荆州天子谣

南史侯景传

脱青袍。 着芒屩。 荆州天子挺应着。

A song about how Hou Jing was having a hard time holding on to the throne.

江陵童谣

南史侯景传

苦竹町。市南有好井。荆危州军。杀侯景。

A children's song predicting the slaying of Hou Jing, whose head was cooked, painted, anddisplayed as an exhibition.

时人为殷礼语

南史逸文

奇才强记﹑殷往嗣。

Yin Wang Si was such a genius that he was constantly reading and memorizing manyscriptures.

魏宣武孝明间谣

北史魏孝武帝纪

狐非狐。 貉非貉。 焦梨狗子啮断索。

A rumor predicting the coming to power of Yu Wen Tai.

齐文宣将受襌时童谣

北史齐文宣帝纪

一束槁。两头然。河边羖【羝】飞上天。

A children's song predicting the coming to power of Gao Yang, Wen Xuan emperor of Northern Qi.

齐天保间童谣

北史齐文宣帝纪

马子入石室。三千六百日。

A children's song correctly predicting that the reign of Gao Yang would be exactly ten years.

河东民为元淑谣

北史常山王遵传附其孙淑传

泰州河东。 杼柚代舂。 元公至止。 田畴始理。

A song sung by people of He Dong praising their Governor Yuan Shu, who made them learn agriculture in order to have a more sustainable life than that based on trading.

文林馆中为陆乂

北史陆俟传附晜孙乂传

五经无对﹑有陆乂。

Lu Yi has so much knowledge of the five scriptures that no one could ever challenge him.

邺下为李氏兄弟语

北史李浑传

学则浑绘纬。 口则绘纬浑。

Among the three brothers of the Li household, their competence in learnedness are in this order: Hun is the first, Hui is the second, and Wei is the third. Their loquaciousness is in this order: Hui the first, Wei the second, and Hun the third.

时人为李普济语

北史李子雄传附族弟普济传

入麤入细﹑李普济。

Li Pu Ji is good in every way.

时人为李义深语

北史李义深传

剑戟森森﹑李义深。

Li Yi Shen has talent, yet he is too selfish and good at scheming.

时人为阳休之语

北史阳休之传

能赋能诗﹑阳休之。

Yang Xiu Zhi is good at writing poems.

时人为阴凤语

北时贾思伯传

阴生读书不免痴。 不识双凤脱人衣。

Words about how Yin Fong was silly to pawn his clothes in order to pay his tuition to his twoteachers, who eventually were all successful and rich.

李延寿引鄙语论娄定远

北史娄昭传

利以昏智。

Profits alone can make a wise person delirious, let alone someone who is not wise.

时人为唐永语

北史唐永传

莫陆梁。 恐尔逢唐将。

Words about a general whose army was stationed on the northern border. He was there for four years and never lost a single battle.

隋炀帝时并州谣言

北史隋庶人谅传

一张纸。 两张纸。 客量小儿作天子。

A rumor about who would become an emperor. Yang Liang interpreted this rumor in his favor but failed in his attempt to take over the throne and died in prison.

冀州人语

北史熊安生传

显公钟。 宋公鼓。 宗道晖屐。 李洛姬肚。

Words by people of Ji Zhou about the four biggest of four local people. One monk has the biggest bell. Mr. Song has the biggest drum, Mr. Zong has the biggest wooden shoes, and Mr. Li has the belly of a pregnant woman.

卷十二

中宗引俗谚

旧唐书礼仪志一

冬至长于岁。

On the day of the winter solstice, everyone grows one year older.

杨伴儿谣

旧唐书音乐志二

杨婆儿。 共戏来。

A children's song referring to how the son of a witch became a companion of an empress.

宁王引谚

旧唐书五行志

树稼﹑达官怕。

High government officials are afraid of ice storms.

调露中嵩山谣

旧唐书五行志

嵩山凡几层。 不畏登不得。 但恐不得登。

三度征兵马。 旁道打腾腾。

A song referring to Emperor Zhong's three attempts to ascend the Song mountain and consecrate it. He failed each time due to the unrest of neighboring foreign tribes on the northern border, and on the third time, he died.

如意初里歌

旧唐书五行志

黄獐黄獐﹑ 草里藏。 弯弓射尔伤。

Those roebucks hidden in the bush really can shoot arrows and kill you. Words referring to how an entire army was wiped out by the Qi Dan tribe from the north during the Tang dynasty.

元和小儿谣

旧唐书五行志

打麦打麦。三三三。 舞了也。

A children's song referring to the date when and the manner by which (an ambush) Wu YuanHeng was killed.

鬼门关谚

旧唐书地理之岭南道容州下

鬼门关。 十人九不还。

Of those who go past the Gate to the Ghost Realm (referring to the custom on the border between China and present day Vietnam), nine out of ten will not come back alive.

沧州百姓为薛大鼎歌

旧唐书食货志下

新河得通舟戢利。 直达沧海鱼盐至。

昔日徒行今骋驷。 美哉薛公德滂被。

Words by people of Chang Zhou praising the good work of their official Xue Da Ding, who cleared a river path to the ocean.

窦建德军中谣

旧唐书窦建德传

豆入牛口。 势不得久。

Words referring to the defeat of a warlord Dou Jiang De by Prince Qin, who was an emperor ofthe Tang dynasty.

时人为屈突氏兄弟语

旧唐书屈突通传

宁食三斗艾。 不见屈突盖。

宁服三斗葱。 不见屈突通。

Words referring to the strict enforcement of law by two brothers, Qu Tu Tong and Qu Tu Gai, who were both government officials.

高宗时王府官语

旧唐书江元祥传

宁向儋崖振白。 不事江滕蒋虢。

People would rather live in undeveloped places in the tropical south than have to live under the jurisdiction of four greedy and corrupted princes: Prince of Jiang, Prince of Teng, Prince of Jiang, and Prince of Guo.

女武王谣

旧唐书李君羡传

当有女武王者。

Words predicting the coming to power of the one and only Empress Wu in the Tang dynasty.

廉州邑里为颜游秦歌

旧唐书颜籀传

廉州颜有道。 性行同庄老。 爱人如赤子。 不杀非时草。

A song sung by people of Lian Zhou praising their governors Yan Liu and You Qin for their kindness to the people.

马周引俚语

旧唐书马周传

贫不学俭。 富不学奢。

The poor should not have to learn how to be frugal and the rich should not have to learn to be extravagant.

景云中海内语

旧唐书柳亨传

姚宋为相。 邪不如正。 太平用事。 正不如邪。

Words referring to how people recommended by Yao Qinand Song Jing all became good officials, whereas people recommended by Princess Tai Ping were all bad.

时人为李义府及其子婿语

旧唐书李义府传

今日巨唐年。 还诛四凶族。

This is a great time for the Tang dynasty, since four fiercely corrupted officials were eliminated.

薛仁贵军中歌

旧唐书薛仁贵传

将军三箭定天山。 战士长歌入汉关。

A song sung by soldiers of General Xue Ren Gui, who conquered the Jiu Xing tribe of Tu Jui, which could never cause trouble agian.

江淮间为许郝田彭四氏语

旧唐书郝处俊传

贵如许郝。 富若田彭。

Among people of Jiang Hui, the most powerful were Xu and Hao, and the most wealthy wereTian and Peng.

时人为阎麟之裴光庭语

旧唐书裴光庭传

麟之口。 光庭手。

People's jobs were decided by what Yan Lin Zhi, who was a subordinate to Pei Guang Ting, said to Pei Guang Ting, who was the Secretary of Human Resources at one time during the Tangdynasty.

益州人吏为杜景俭语

旧唐书杜景俭传

录事意与天通。 益州司马折威风。

Words referring to how the Secretary of Yi Zhou advised the new military chief of Yi Zhou,Fang Si Ye, not to impose his power on people before the official notice had arrived. It turnedout that Fang Si Ye was appointed the military chief of Jing Zhou instead of Yi Zhou.

时人称徐有功杜景俭来俊臣侯思止语

旧唐书杜景俭传

遇徐杜者必生。遇来侯者必死。

Among the four prison officials, whoever met Xu and Du would live, and whoever met Lai and Hou would definitely die.

时人为贾敦颐张任愿语

旧唐书张任愿传

洛州有前贾后张。 可敌京兆三王。

Words referring to the effective law enforcement of Jia and Zhang, the governers of Luo Zhou.

时人为张嘉贞语

旧唐书张嘉贞传

令公四俊。 苗吕员训。

There are four outstanding officials working under Zhang Jai Zhen, the Interior Secretary: Miao, Lu, Yuan, Cui.

司府吏人为尹思贞语

旧唐书尹思贞传

不畏侯卿杖。 惟畏尹卿笔。

One should not have to be afraid of Huo Zhi Yi's sticks but should be afraid of Yi Si Zhen's pen.

时人为卢从愿语

旧唐书卢从愿传

吏部前有马裴。 后有卢李。

In the Department of Human Resources, there were four good officials, the ealier two were Ma and Pei, the later two were Lu and Li.

玄宗时人间唱得体歌

旧唐书韦坚传

得体纥那也。 纥囊得体耶。 潭里船车闹。

扬州铜器多。 三郎当殿坐。 看唱得体歌。

A song concerning how an articifial lake was built in the capital city of Chang An under Wei Jian's supervision. The oddities were his enforcement of license plates for boats, boatmen in uniforms that had a southern (tropical) style, and the goods filling those boats.

崔成甫使妇人唱得宝歌

旧唐书韦坚传

得宝弘农野。 弘农得宝那。 潭里船车闹。

扬州铜器多。 三郎当殿坐。 看唱得宝歌。

A song that the county mayor of Shan made some women sing. The song concerned an auspicious omen that was found in Hong Nong, and the boats in the lake seen in the previousitem.

京师为李岘谣

旧唐书李岘传

欲得米粟贱。 无过追李岘。

A song sung by people of the capital city, which had rain for over sixty days, causing the price ofrice to skyrocket. The good mayor, Li Xian, was blamed for the natural disaster and was sent offto southern China. The song says that only Li Xian could bring the price of rice back down.

卢群醉歌

旧唐书卢群传

祥瑞不在凤凰麒麟。 太平须得边将忠臣。 卫霍真诚奉主。

貔虎十万一身。 江河潜注息浪。 蛮貊款塞无尘。

但得百寮师长肝胆。不用三军罗绮金银。

A song sung by Lu Qun when he was drunk. The song was about his feeling that his talents and loyalty were unknown by those who had power to make him an official.

时人为窦怀贞语

旧唐书窦怀贞传

窦仆射前为韦氏国遮。 后作公主邑丞。

Words referring to Duo Hui Zhen, who got his petty jobs by pleasing the empress and princesswhose unwise projects he served.

时人为武懿宗何阿小语

旧唐书武懿宗传

唯此两何。 杀人最多。

These two He's had killed the most people. Words referring to how one Tang Emperor Yi, when he was Prince of He Nei, killed many civilians who were returned after being abducted by a foreign tribe, Qi Dan. The other He was a general of that foreign tribe.

郢州百姓为田仁会歌

旧唐书田仁会传

父母育我田使君。 精诚为人上天闻。 田中致雨山出云。

仓廪既实礼义申。 但愿常在不患贫。

A song sung by people of Ying Zhou, praising its governor Tian Ren Hui for being able to get rain for them so that their storehouse was filled with grain.

时人为傅孝忠姜师度语

旧唐书姜师度传

傅孝忠两眼看天。 姜师度一心穿地。

Fu Xiao Zhong was good at astrology, and Jiang Shi Du was good at knowing where underground water was.

中宗时人语

旧唐书崔无诐传

皇后嫁女。 天子娶妇。

Words referring to a royal matrimony between a dead princess (the emperor's maternal uncle's daughter) and a dead prince (the emperor's younger brother). The family of the dead princess obtained much dowry for the marriage.

天宝中时人语

旧唐书赵晔传

殷颜柳陆。 萧李邵赵。

Words about the true friendship among eight men.

赵州乡族为李太冲李孝端语

旧唐书李知木传

太冲无兄。 孝端无弟。

Words about two cousins who were government officials, Li Tai Chong and Li Xiao Duan. Tai Chong's rank was higher than Xiao Duan's.

时人为贺氏兄弟语

旧唐书贺德仁传

学行可师﹑贺德基。 文质彬彬﹑贺德仁。

Both He De Ji and He De Ren, who are brothers, are learned persons.

四郡人为杨德干语

旧唐书杨浻传

宁食三斗蒜。 不逢杨德干。

One would rather eat lots of garlic than confront the strict official Yang De Gan.

张果引谚

旧唐书张果传

娶妇得公主。 平地生公府。

If one were to be married to a princess, it would be like cohabiting with a high authorityinstantly.

高昌童谣

旧唐书高昌国传

高昌兵马如霜雪。汉家兵马如日月。

日月照霜雪。 回手自消灭。

A children's song from a kingdom in present-day northwest of China. The words go like this: the army of Gao Chang is like frost and snow and the Han army is like the sun and the moon. The frost and snow melts when shoned upon by the sun and the moon.

干符中谣言

旧唐书黄巢传

金色虾蟆争努眼。 翻却曹州天下反。

A rumor predicting the Huang Chao's uprising against the central Tang government.

大理囚为袁仁敬歌

旧唐书逸文

天不恤冤人兮。 何夺我慈亲兮。

有理无申兮。痛哉安诉陈兮。

The prisoners of Da Li mourned the death of their warden. They cried out the song: Heaven hasno mercy on people who have been framed. That is why it took Yuan Ren Jing, who was as dear as our parent, away. From now on, we have no way of petitioning our innocence.

时人为杨贵妃语

旧唐书五行志一

义髻拋河里。 黄裙逐水流。

The empress Yang Tai Zhen threw her wigs and yellow skirts out into the river.

调露初京城民谣

新唐书五行志二

侧堂堂。 桡堂堂。

A folk song sung in the capital city of Tang proclaiming that depite the messy internal power struggle in the imperial court, the Tang dynasty would continue on.

永淳中童谣

新唐书五行志二

新禾不入箱。 新麦不入场。 迨及八九月。 狗吠空垣墙。

A children's song predicting that there would be no harvest for a specific year because of too much rain.

永淳后民歌

新唐书五行志二

杨柳杨柳漫头驼。

A folk song predicting the failure of a warlord named Xu Jing Yei.

神龙后民谣

新唐书五行志二

山南鸟鹊窠。 山北金骆驼。 镰柯不凿孔。 斧子不施柯。

Words referring to how the Tang territory was bothered by the invasions of Tu Jui and therefore people could not even farm or harvest regularly.

神龙后童谣

新唐书五行志二

可怜安乐寺。 了了树头悬。

A children's song referring to the death of Princess An Le, whose head was cut off and hung on a tree.

景龙中民谣

新唐书五行志二

黄牸犊子挽纼断。 两足踏地鞋【麻】断。城南黄牸犊子韦。

A folk song referring to the failure of an uprising organized by Wei.

又景龙中谣

新唐书五行志二

可怜圣善寺。 身着绿毛衣。 牵来河里饮。 踏杀鲤鱼儿。

A folk song referring to the failure of an uprising organized by the Prince of Jiao, who killedhimself by plunging into the Luo River.

潞州童谣

新唐书五行志二

羊头山北作朝堂。

A children's song predicting the imperial visit by Emperor Xuan.

安禄山未反时童谣

新唐书五行志二

燕燕飞上天。 天上女儿铺白毡。 毡上有千钱。

A children's song predicting the major uprising of An Lu Shan.

幽州谣

新唐书五行志二

旧来夸戴竿。 今日不堪看。 但看五月里。 清水河边见契丹。

A song predicting the invasion of the Qi Dan tribe.

朱泚未败前童谣

新唐书五行志二

一只箸。 两头朱。 五六月。 化为蛆。

A children's song predicting the death of a warlord named Zhu Ci.

咸通七年童谣

新唐书五行志二

草青青。 被严霜。 鹊始复。 看颠狂。

The grass was green before it was covered by bitter frost. Look at the crazy mess in the country.

咸通十四年成都童谣

新唐书五行志二

咸通癸巳。 出无所之。 蛇去马来。

道路稍开。 头无片瓦。 地有残灰。

During this year, people could not really get anywhere. Next year, it should be better. However, people will still not have a stable life.

干符六年童谣

新唐书五行志二

八月无霜塞草青。 将军骑马出空城。

汉家天下西巡狩。 犹向江东更索兵。

In the month of August, there was no frost and therefore the grass outside the northern borderwas green. The general rode on his horse out of the empty city. The Han's emperor travelled tothe west. It was as though he was inviting invasion from warlords in the southeast.

中和初童谣

新唐书五行志二

黄巢走。 泰山东。 死在翁家翁。

A children's song concerning the place and manner (killed by his own subordinate) of death for Huang Chao, who organized an uprising against the central government.

门匠谣

新唐书食货志三

古无门匠墓。

Guides for crossing a certain river with underwater rocks usually drown after shipwreck;therefore there are generally no graves for these people.

荆南民为段文昌语

新唐书段文昌传

旱不苦。 祷而雨。 雨不愁。 公出游。

People of Jing Nan praising Duan Wen Chang, a general stationed there. He could somehow control the weather. When they needed rain, he could make it rain. When they wanted it sunny,he could make it sunny.

崔仁师引谚

新唐书崔仁师传

杀人刖足。 亦皆有礼。

There should be rules guiding the execution of people and the cutting off of their legs. In other words, the punishment should fit the crime.

时人为权怀恩语

新唐书权怀恩传

宁饮三斗尘。 无逢权怀恩。

One would rather devour a great amount of dust than confront the strict law enforcer, Quan Hui An.

时人为李乂语

新唐书李乂传

李下无蹊径。

There is no short cut to getting favors from Li Yi.

哥舒翰引谚

新唐书哥舒翰传

狐向窟嗥不祥。

It is not auspicious for a fox to howl at its own cave.

长安民为鲜于氏兄弟歌

新唐书李叔明传

前尹赫赫。 具瞻允若。 后尹熙熙。 具瞻允斯。

A song sung by people of Chang An, the capital city, praising their two mayors who were brothers to each other.

时人为崔铉语

新唐书崔铉传

郑杨段薛。 炙手可热。 欲得命通。 鲁绍瑰蒙。

Words referring to the four powerful consultants of Cui Xuan, who was trusted by the emperor atthe time.

时人为苏张三杨语

新唐书杨虞卿传

欲趋举场﹑ 问苏张。 苏张犹可。 三杨杀我。

If one wants to take the civil service test, one should ask for advice from Su and Zhang. Su and Zhang may give good advice, but the best advice would come from Yang Yu Qing.

真源邑中为华南金语

新唐书张巡传

南金口。 明府手。

Words about how Hua Nan Jin, who was abusing his power as a key offcial, was executed by Governor Zhang Xun.

学者为苏李沈宋语

新唐书宋之问传

苏李居前。 沈宋比肩。

Words referring to four poets' style of poetry.

李邕妻引谚

新唐书李邕传

士无贤不肖。 入朝见疾。

There are no such thing as good or bad people, since as long as they serve in the imperial court, jealousy comes around to them.

唐时为八诗人语

新唐书卢纶传

前有沈宋王杜。 后有钱郎刘李。

Words about eight poets during the Tang dynasty.

武三思干政时天下语

新唐书武三思传

崔冉郑。 乱时政。

Words referring to the people who were messing up the imperial court, and who got their power from allying with Wu San Si.

京师里闾诅

新唐书王旭传

若违教。 值三豹。

A curse that people used when swearing against their own actions. It says that if I were to have gone against the teaching (of something not specified), then I would meet any of the three ruthless officials in the capital city.

时人为魏牙军语

新唐书罗绍威传

长安天子。 魏府牙军。

The people from the Wei Ya army camp were like the emperors in the capital city. This is referring to the unreasonable and illicit behavior of these military personnel.

蜀人为吐蕃南诏语

新唐书四夷列传序

西戊尚可。 南蛮残我。

Words referring to the aggressively and viciously strong military force of Tu Fan, which is the present day Tibet.

贾言忠引谚

新唐书高丽传

军无媒。 中道回。

If a military mission has no guide who knows the inside information of the opponents, it will likely have to retreat half of the way.

黄巢军中谣

新唐书黄巢传

逢儒则肉﹑师必覆。

If intellectuals who know nothing about a warfare are attacked in a military action, then that action will definitely fail.

张蒙传太白山神语

旧五代史唐书末帝纪上

三珠并一珠。 驴马没人驱。 岁月甲庚午。 中兴戊己土。

Words spoken by a fortune teller are said by a mountain deity. However, the fortune teller said he could not interpret these words. He became an advisor to the emperor anyway.

诸军为唐末帝谣

旧五代史唐书末帝纪上

去欲生菩萨。 扶起一条铁。

A song sung by the military complaining about the meager pay they receive forprotecting the emperor.

唐昭宗引俚语

新五代史寇彦卿传

纥干山头冻死雀。 何不飞去生处乐。

An idiom referred to by Tang's emperor Zhao, saying that instead of freezing to death in a cold mountain, people should go somewhere where they could live.

郭崇韬故人子弟引俚语

新五代史郭崇韬传

骑虎者势不得下。

Once a person rides on a tiger, it is hard for that person to get down from the tiger without being hurt.

王彦章引俚语

新五代史王彦章传

豹死留皮。 人死留名。

What is left behind by a leopard when it dies is its skin, and what is left behind by a person when he or she dies is his or her reputation.

杜重威引俚语

新五代史杜重威传

逢贼得命。 更望复子乎。

If one survives a confrontation with bandits, one is lucky enough and should not think about getting anything else.

吴越王还乡歌

新五代史吴越世家

三节还乡兮挂锦衣。 碧天朗朗兮爱日晖。

功成道上兮列旌旗。 父老远来相追随。

家山乡眷兮会时稀。 今朝设宴兮觥散飞。

牛斗无孛人无欺。 吴越一王驷马归。

A song sung by Qian Liu who was crowned as a king by Tang's emperor Zhao. The song is about how he loves his hometown and his people.

闽人为归守明歌

新五代史闽世家。

谁谓九龙帐。 惟贮一归郎。

Who calls for the making of that nine-dragon canopy? He will not get to use it but his wife's lover will.

卷十三

建隆中京师歌

宋史五行志四

五来子。

A ong sung during early years of the Song dynasty when five territories were conquered and included in the map of Song.

刘鋹末年广南童谣

宋史五行志四

羊头二四。 白天雨至。

A children' song in the south of Guang Dong area predicting Song' conquest of Liu Chang's territory, a welcome thing for the people in that area since Liu Chang was abusing them.

皇佑中谣

宋史五行志四

农家种。 籴家收。

Words predicting the defeat of a warlord by central government troops. The words say that the farmers will get to sell their harvest this time instead of turning it over to the warlord.

淳熙中淮西汪秀才歌

宋史五行志四

骑驴渡江。 过江不得。

Those people who were trying to cross the river on donkeys would not make it. Words sung by a scholar predicting the failure of a local man's uprising.

淳熙十四年歌

宋史五行志四

汝亦不来我家。 我亦不来汝家。

You do not have to visit me and I do not have to visit you. Words predicting the strife between the emperor and his father.

绍定三年歌

宋史五行志四

东君去后花无主。

A song predicting the death of the crown prince.

纸钱谣

宋史五行志四

使到十八九。 纸钱飞上天。

A song describing inflation as bills flying to the sky.

五更头谣

宋史五行志四

寒在五更头。

Words predicting the length of the Sung dynasty.

卢宗原引谚

宋史河渠志六

拆船湾。

Shipwreck Bay. A slang term referring to a section of a river that is shipwreck-prone.

元史官引时人语论职官

宋史职官志序

宁豋瀛。 不为卿。 宁抱椠。 不为监。

Words referring to good and bad government posts.

王岩叟引父老谚

宋史兵志六

儿曹空手。 不可以入教场。

You guys cannot go into the army without getting together your own equipment. Words referring to the high expenses incurred by being drafted into the army.

宋琪引谚

宋史宋琪传

磨镰杀马。

Sharpening one's long knife to kill horses [ is what a troop does not have to do when traveling through their own territories].

京师为陈象舆董俨语

宋史赵昌言传

陈三更。 董半夜。

Words referring to the constant gathering of four government officials.

张问引谚

宋史毕仲衍传

锄一恶。 长十善。

Getting rid of a problem in one area improves the situations in ten areas.

时人为苏绅梁适语

宋史苏绅传

草头木脚。 陷入倒卓。

Words referring to two ruthless prison officials.

闽人宰相谣

宋史章得象传

南台江合出宰相。

Words predicting someone from southern China becoming the emperor's chief advisor.

京师为包拯语

宋史包拯传

关节不到。 有阎罗包老。

There is one official whom one does not have to bribe to see, that is Bao Zheng whose nickname is the King of Hell.

时人为李稷李察语

宋史李稷传

宁逢黑杀。 莫逢稷察。

Words referring to two greedy and corrupted officials.

苏州民为王觌歌

宋史王觌传

吏行冰上。 人在镜心。

A song sung by people of Su Zhou praising their Governor Wang Di for having good insight about who was doing bad things.

江公望引俚语

宋史江公望传

私事官雠。

Using power from a public position to settle a personal score.

曹辅引俚语

宋史曹辅传

盗憎主人。

The burglars hate the property owners.

崔鶠引京师语

宋史崔鶠传

大惇小惇。 秧及子孙。

Words referring to two bad officials in the imperial court.

敌为岳家军语

宋史岳飞传

撼山易。 撼岳家军难。

Words said by one enemy force about Yue Fei's troops. It is easier to shake a mountain than shake Yue's troops.

镇江民为蔡洸歌

宋史蔡洸歌

我潴我水。 以灌以溉。 俾我不夺。 蔡公是赖。

A song sung by people of Zhen Jiang, praising their official for being able to call for it to rain in time for their crops.

赵范引谚

宋史赵范传

护家之狗。 盗贼所恶。

Thieves and burglars hate dogs that can protect properties.

光化谷城人为叶康直丰稷歌

宋史叶康直传

叶光化。 丰谷城。 清如水。 平如衡。

Words praising two competent and compassionate local officials.

道州人为蔡元定弟子语

宋史蔡元定传

初不敬。 今纳命。

Words referring to the drastic changes in the disciples of Cai Yuan Ding. In the beginning, they were disrespectful because they felt dubious about Cai's competence. Later, they felt complete admiration for him.

果州民为张义实杨泰之歌

宋史杨泰之传

前张后杨。 惠我无疆。

Words praising two local official who did only good things for the people.

时人为胡伸汪藻语

宋史汪藻传

江左二宝。 胡伸汪藻。

There are two outstanding officials who are also poets from the Yangtzi River area, namely, Hu Shen and Wang Zao.

李若水死义时歌

宋史李若水传

矫首问天兮天卒无言。 忠臣效死兮死亦何愆。

A song sung by a loyal official to the Song emperor when he was being killed by the Manchurians, who were invading northern China: I look up at the sky and ask why but no answer was given by the sky. As a loyal official to my emperor, I shall die without any wrongdoing.

龙南安远谚

宋史秦桧传

龙南安远。 一去不转。

Words predicting the death of two officials in the imperial court. They were banished from the court and dispatched to southern tropical places because of offending Qin Kui, whom the emperor had completely spoiled.

马氏将乱时湘中童谣

宋史湖南周氏世家

马去不用鞭。咬牙过今年。

Words predicting the failed uprising of the Ma clan and the death of awarlord.

太祖淳钦皇后引颜

辽史皇子表

偏怜之子不保业。难得之妇不主 家。

The most favored son can not even maintain the ancestral properties. A woman who is outstanding in every way should not be in charge of the household.

辽土河童谣

辽史太祖淳钦皇后述律氏传

青牛妪。曾避路。

Words predicting Empress Cun Qin's attainment of the title Queen of the Earth.

武定军百姓为杨佶歌

辽史杨佶传

何以苏我。上天降雨。谁其抚我。杨公为主。

A song sung by people of Wu Ding praising its general Yang Ji's being able to bring rain in time for them to bring in their harvest.

时人为萧岩寿语

辽史萧岩寿传

以狼牧羊。何能久长。

Words predicting the death of an official who lost the power struggle in the court of the Liao dynasty.

熙宗引谚

金史熙宗纪

疑人勿使。使人勿疑。

Do not employ someone whom you have doubt in. Once one employs someone, he or she should not have doubt in that person.

泰和八年童谣

金史五行志

易水流。汴水流。百年易过又休休。

两家都好住。前后总成留。

Words predicting the move of the capital city of Jin dynasty.

贞佑元年卫州童谣

金史五行志

团恋冬。劈半年。寒食节。没人烟。

Words predicting the invasion of Wei Zhou by the Mongolian army.

兴定中童谣

金史五行志

青山转﹐转山青。耽误尽。少年人。

A children's song referring to the unending warfare. Wars lasted so long that men were soldiers all their lives

世祖时童谣

金史世纪

欲生则附于跋黑。欲死则附于刻里钵颇刺淑。

A children's song that wrongly predicted the outcome of the power struggle between two brothers, one was the emperor and the other was a prince of the Jin dynasty. The prince was trying to overthrow the emperor by connecting with someone outside the court. But he died from choking on a piece of meat.

时人为谷神娄室语

金史纥石烈良弼传

前有谷神。后有娄室。

Words about two great geniuses in the history of Jin.

平旸百姓为张浩杨伯雄语

金史阳伯平传

前有张。后有杨。

Words by people of Ping Yang about two great local officials.

时人为赵秉文语

金史赵秉文传

古有朱云。金有秉文。朱云攀槛。秉文攀人。

Words referring to one official who should be jailed like everyone else in the same project but was exonerated because of knowing the right people.

哀宗引谚

金史撤合辇传

水深见长人。

A proverb saying that there are people standing in water, and when the water is deep enough, we can tell who is tall. It means that we do not know what people are like until we have the right situations.

河内正平县民为王竞韩希甫张元谚

金史王竞传

西山至海岸。县官两人半。

Words by people of Zheng Ping about the three local officials who governed the place successively and were just about equally competent.

四方为李妃胥持国语

金史佞幸胥持国传

经童作相。监婢为妃。

Words referring to how people coming from lower classes reached high positions in the court and pleased the emperor by flattering him in the right ways.

卷十四

至元十六年彰德路民谣

元史五行志二

苇生成旗。民皆流离。苇生成枪。杀伐遭殃。

Words referring to people (civilians) having to leave home and wander around to escape from war, and to how they are killed in the war.

至正二十八年彰德路童谣

元史五行志二

塔儿黑。北人作主南人客。

塔儿红。朱衣人作主人公。

When the color of the Tian Ning tower was black, people from the north ruled; when the color of the tower was red, a man in red shall be the master. This is a children's song predicting the coming to power of Zhu (meaning red) Yuan Zhang's coming to power and the end of the Mongolian dynasty.

至元十六年彰德民谣

元史五行志二

李生黄瓜。民皆无家。

People become homeless when cucumbers grow on a plum tree. Words referring to the difficulty of life when China was in the transition from the Yuan (the Mongolian) dynasty to the Ming dynasty.

至元五年八月京师童谣

元史五行志二

白雁望南飞。马札望北跳。

The white geese fly towards the south and the horses jump towards the north. A children's song in the capital city referring to the Mongolians' heading north for home soon.

至正五年淮楚间童谣

元史五行志二

富汉莫起楼。穷汉莫起屋。但看羊儿头。便是吴家国。

A rich man should not build a mansion and a poor man should not build a house. Simply looking at the head of a sheep, then you know you have neither home nor country. A children's song referring to the rough life under the Mongolians' rule.

至正十五年京师童谣

元史五行志二

一阵黄风一阵沙。 千里万里无人家。

回头雪消不堪看。 三眼和尚弄瞎马。

A gusty yellow and dusty wind blows on thousands of miles where people do not reside. When one turns one's head, the snow melts before sees it. A three-eyed monk is playing with a blind horse.

元统二年彰德民谣

元史五行志二

天雨【牦】。 事不齐。

When the sky is raining white hair, everything is going wrong.

至元三年彰德民谣

元史五行志二

天雨线。 民起怨。 中原地。 事必变。

When the sky is raining threads, people are complaining greatly. Something severe is going to happen to the central plains (of China).

金末庚午岁童谣

元史郭宝玉传

摇摇罟罟至。 河南拜阏氏。

A children's song predicting the defeat of the Jin army by the invading Mongolian army.

夏贵引谚

元史洪君祥传

杀人一万。 自损三千。

When one kills ten thousand people in a war, one has to lose three thousand sodiers at the same time.

雷州民为乌古孙泽歌

元时乌古孙泽传

舄卤为田兮。 孙父之教。 渠之泱泱兮。

长我稻。 自今有生兮。 无旱无涝。

A song sung by people of Lei Zhou praising their official Wu Gu Sun Ze, who was able to plan irrigation for farm lands properly.

时人为归旸吴柄语

元史归旸传

归旸出角。 吴柄无光。

Words praising Gui Yang for not going along with some people who failed in an attempt to establish their own government during the Yuan dynasty. His contemporary Wu Bing went along and was despised.

绍兴乡里为俞母语

元史列女闻氏传

欲学孝妇。 当问俞母。

If one wants to be a filial daughter-in-law, one should consult Yu Xin's wife.

苏州民为张士信等谣

明史五行志三

丞相做事业。 专靠黄蔡叶。 一朝西风起。 干。

Words predicting the defeat and death of Zhang Shi Cheng, who was one of the major warlords at the end of Yuan dynasty

建文初年道士歌

明史五行志三

莫逐燕。 逐燕日高飞。 高飞上帝畿。

A song sung by a Taoist practitioner predicting the coming to power of Emperor Cheng, who took away the throne from his nephew Emperor Jian Wen by military force.

正统二年京师小儿歌

明史五行志三

雨帝雨帝。 城隍土地。 雨若再来。 还我土地。

A children's song sung in the capital city, predicting that when Ming's Emperor Ying, who was captured by a northern tribe, returned to the capital, his younger brother, who took over the throne, would have to give the throne back to him.

万历末年道士歌

明史五行志三

委鬼当头坐。 茄花遍地生。

A song sung by a Taoist predicting that when the eunuch Wei Zong Xian took control of the court, there would be much bloodshed.

万历末年谣

明史五行志三

邺台复邺台。 曹操再出来。

A rumor predicting an uprising organized by Luo Ru Cai against the Ming government.

官人为马后歌

明史太祖孝慈高皇后马氏传

我后圣慈。 化行家邦。 抚我育我。

怀德难忘。 怀德难忘。 于万斯年。

毖彼下泉。 悠悠苍天。

A song sung by the servant maids in the Ming court about Empress Ma who was really kind to everyone, including the emperor's concubines in the court.

方孝孺绝命词

明史方孝孺传

天降乱离兮。 孰知其由。 奸臣得计兮。 谋国用犹。

忠臣发愤兮。 血泪交流。 以此殉君兮。 抑又何求。

呜呼哀哉兮。 庶不我尤。

Words said by Fang Xiao Ru, who was loyal to Jian Wen Emperor, before he was executed by Emperor Cheng, who took away Jian Wen's throne by military force. In these words, he said he did not regret dying for the cause of being loyal to his emperor.

韩郁引谚

明史高巍传

亲者割之不断。 疏者续之不坚。

It is impossible to cut off one's relations with one's blood relatives, just as it is impossible to establish any bond with someone who is not a blood relative.

时人为韩雍陈选语

明史陈选传

前有韩雍。 后有陈选。

Words referring to two greedy and corrupted officials.

江阴民为周斌歌

明史杨瑄传附周斌传

旱为灾。 周公祷之甘露来。 水为患。 周公祷之阴雨散。

A song sung by people of Jiang Yin concerning their official Zhou Pin, who was able to call for rain when people needed rain, and able to stop rain when a flood was forming.

京师为左鼎练纲语

明史左鼎传

左鼎手。 练纲口。

Words spread in the capital city concerning two officials. Zuo Ding was good at writing reports to the emperor, and Lian Gang dared to say anything to the emperor.

成化时谣

明史万安传

纸糊三阁老。 泥塑六尚书。

Words referring to those high-ranking officials surrounding the emperor. The words describe how incompetent and useless they were.

时人为朱铨龙文语

明史石亨传

朱三千。 龙八百。

Words referring to how two people actually bought their way into the government posts they were holding.

彭时引谚

明史彭时传

子出多母。

A son comes out of many mothers. A proverb used by Peng Shi to advise the emperor to spread his love to different concubines in the court instead of just focusing on one who could no longer bear children, since the emperor still had no heir at the time.

时人为李东阳刘健谢迁语

明史刘健传

李公谋。 刘公断。 谢公尤侃侃。

Mr. Li was good at thinking, Mr. Liu was good at judging, Mr. Xie was good at speaking. Words referring to three outstanding officials during Ming's Emperor Xiao's reign.

时人为王恕谣

明史王恕传

两京十二部。 独有一王恕。

Words about how Wang Shu, a high-ranking official, was always ready to tell the emperor what he thought was right, to the point at which the emperor was tired of him, too.

川东人为梳贼官军土兵谣

明史洪钟传

贼如梳。 军如篦。 土兵如剃。

A song sung by people of Eastern Si Chuan about how the government troops were killing and robbing the people, like the bandits they were trying to catch.

浔州人为陈金语

明史陈金传

永通不通。 来葬江中。 谁其作者。 噫。 陈公。

Words by people of Xun Zhou complaining about how Chen Jin, the governor of Southern China, had come up with a bad policy to deal with the minority group Miao.

江西民为土贼土兵谣

明史陈金传

土贼犹可。 土兵杀我。

A song sung by people of Jiang Xi about how the government troops were worse to the civilians than were the bandits whom the troops were trying to eliminate.

都下为林俊张黻语

明史林俊传

御史刑曹。 黄门出后府。

Words referring to how two officials who would not flatter and bribe got into trouble and were thrown in jail.

京师为严嵩严世蕃谣

明史杨继盛传

大丞相。 小丞相。

Words referring to the father and son, Yan Song and Yan Shu Fan. They were dominating the court even without official titles.

都门为万采方祥谚

明史董传策传

文武管家。

Words referring to how two officials in the court were serving Yan Song as though they were his butlers.

吕坤引蜀民语

明史吕坤传

入山一千。 出山五百。

Words said by the loggers of Si Chuan about how logging was a tough job. You got one thousand man to the mountain and you would only get half of them out of the mountain alive.

都人为陈与郊语

明史王汝训传

欲京堂。 须弹章。

Words said about Chen Yu Jiao, who were impeached and yet were promoted after that. The words said that if one wanted to be promoted to high positions, one should be impeached first.

南康士民为林学曾李应升谣

明史李应升传

前林后李。 清和无比。

A song sung by people of Nan Kang referring to two very good judges who were able to save innocent lives.

秦中士民为曹文诏谣

明史曹文诏传

军中有一曹。 西贼闻之心胆摇。

A song sung by people of Shan (first tone) Xi and Shan (third tone) Xi about Cao Wen Zhao, who was in charge of eliminating bandits in these two provinces. The words say that if there is one Cao in the army, all the bandits will be scared just by the thought of him.

诸军为左良玉猛如虎谣

明史猛如虎传

想杀我左镇。 跑杀我猛镇。

Words said by the soldiers about two generals. They missed Zuo Liang Yu, since he never let them work too hard, and they complained about Meng Ru Hu, since he trained them too hard.

济宁人为方克勤歌

明史方克勤传

孰罢我役。使君之力。孰活我黍。

使君之雨。使君勿去。我民父母。

A song sung by people of Ji Ning about their official Fang Ke Qin: It is all because of him that we get out of mandatory labor, it is he who gets us rain for our crops, and he had better not go anywhere as he is like a parent of the people.

松江民为赵豫谣

明史赵豫传

松江太守明日来。

Teasing words said by people of Song Jiang about their new governor, Zhao Yu. People of Song Jiang liked to sue one another. Zhao Yu would advise them to think things through and come back tomorrow. The words go like this: the Song Jiang Governor will come tomorrow.

时人为何廷仁黄宏纲钱德洪王畿语

明史钱德洪传

江有何黄。 浙有钱王。

Words referring to the outstanding students of Wang Shou Ren, who could really expound their teacher's thoughts well.

吴人为皇甫氏张氏兄弟语

明史皇甫涍传

前有四皇。 后有三张。

Words referring to the good writers: four brothers of the Huang Fu household, and three brothers of the Zhang household.

馆中为许国李维桢语

明史李维桢传

记不得。 问老许。 做不得。 问小李。

Words said by people in the National Archive of certain period of Ming dynasty. If you do not remember something ask Xu Guo Qi, if you cannot do something well, ask Li Wei Zhen. These are words praising the two knowledgeable people.

焦芳引谚

明史阉党焦芳传

无钱拣故纸。

If one does not have money to buy new paper, one should just use some scrap paper from before. A proverb suggesting how a poor person can save money.

时人为李恒茂李鲁生李蕃语

明史阉党霍维华传

官要起。 问三李。

If one wants to get government jobs or be promoted, one should ask those three Mr. Li's who are hot at the moment.

时人为田尔耕谣

明史阉党田尔耕传

大儿田尔耕。

Words referring to one man, Tian Er Geng, who worked for Wei Zhong Xian, a powerful eunuch during a certain period of Ming. He was almost like the big son of Wei Zhong Xian (who could not possibly have sons).

福王时南都人语

明史奸臣马士英传

职方贱如狗。都督满街走。

Words referring to the time when an evil court official, Ma Shi Ying, was dominant. At that time, one would only have to pay him to get a government job.

华人为猫里务语

明史合猫里国传

若要富。须往猫里务。

If one wants to get rich, one should go to Ma Li Wu, the small island nation that was a trading center at the time. It is close to the present-day Philippines.

舟人往西洋谚

明史宾童龙国传

上怕七州。下怕昆仑。针迷舵失。人船无存。

Words referring to the danger of traveling on ships to oceans west of China.

真腊谚

明史真腊国传

富贵真腊。

Words referring to a rich country, Zhen La.

三佛齐国旧港语

明史三佛齐国传

一年种谷。 三年生金。

Words referring to the country San Fuo Qi in present day Southeast Asia. This place has very fertile, arable land and very prosperous trading activities.

卷十五

西王母为穆王谣

穆天子传

白云在天。山陵自出。道里悠远。

山川间之。将子为死。尚能复来。

A song sung by Xi Wang Mu ("western king mother," a supposedly mythological figure) forEmperor Mu. The words express the long distance that he had to travel in order to visit her.

穆王答西王母谣

穆天子传

予归东土。和治诸夏。万民平均。

吾顾见汝。比及三年。将复而野。

A song sung by Emperor Mu in reply to Xi Wang Mu's song in the previous item. The words saythat he would do a good job governing the entire country and making people happy. He wouldcome back in three years to visit her.

穆王西巡时忧吟

穆天子传

彼徂西土。爰居其野。虎豹为群。于鹊与处。嘉命不迁。

我为帝天子。大命而不可称。顾世民之恩。流涕卉陨。

吹笙鼓簧。中心翱翔。世民之子。唯天子望。

A verse made by Emperor Mu when he traveled west to see the territory he reigned. Heexpressed his concerns for his people and realized that people would wish for him to do a goodjob.

穆王使宫乐谣

穆天子传

黄之地。 其马歕沙。 皇人威仪。 黄之泽。其马歕玉。

皇人受谷。

A song sung by Emperor Mu's musician. The words are praising Emperor's Mu's majesticradiance and wishing him a long life.

击壤歌

帝王世纪

吾日出而作。 日入而息。 凿井而饮。 耕田而食。

帝何力于我哉。

We go to work when the sun rises and quit work when the sun sets. We dig our own well fordrinking water and we grow our own food. In no way is the emperor's power constricting us.

开皇初太原童谣

大唐创业起居注

法律存。道德在。白旗天子出东海。

A children's song from Tai Yuan where the first emperor of Tang dynasty originated. The wordsgo like this : as long as the law exists, there will be morality. The emperor goes on ships on theEastern Sea.

桃李子歌

大唐创业起居注

桃李子。莫浪语。黄鹄绕山飞。宛转花园里。

桃花园。 宛转属旌旛。

A song about a peach garden and plums. Tang emperor's surname is Li, which literally meansplum. This song predicted the coming to power of the Li family. People were amazed that whatthe song was hinting at should come true.

慧化尼歌

大唐创业起居注

东海十八子。八井唤三军。手持双白雀。头上戴紫云。

丁丑语甲子。深藏入堂里。何意坐堂里。中央有天子。

西北天光照。龙山昭童子。赤光连北斗。童子木上悬白旛。

胡兵纷纷满前后。拍手唱堂堂。驱羊向南走。

胡兵未济汉不整。治中都护有八井。

兴伍伍。仁义行。武得九九得声名。童子木底百丈水。

东家井里五色星。我语不可信。问取卫先生。

A song sung by a nun concerning what China would become.

杨济引谚

通鉴

生子痴。了官事。

If one should have stupid sons, then one does not ever have to worry about them getting intotrouble with the government, as they could not possibly be in any government posts.

魏孝武帝迁长安时谚

通鉴

荧惑入南斗。 天子下 殿走。

The emperor would run off the court when the constellation was in certain arrangement.

唐太宗引谚

通鉴

生狼犹恐如羊。

A wolf is afraid of giving birth to a son who has the character of a lamb. A proverb referred to byTang Emperor Tai concerning his crown prince, Zhi whose character was too weak.

薛克构引谚

通鉴

娶妇得公主。无事取官府。

If one is married to a princess, it is like trying to have more trouble with the government.

上元元年淮西谣言

通鉴

手执金刀起东方。

A rumor predicting the uprising of a warlord holding a gold saber in the east.

时人称扬益二州语

通鉴

扬一。益二。

In the country, Yang Zhou (equivalent to a state) is the most prosperous and Yi Zhou is next tothat.

胡三省引鄙语论司马懿

通鉴

棋逢敌手难藏行。

When one meets an opponent with equal competence in a chess game, it is hard to hide anysecret skills.

胡三省引鄙语论后唐后汉二后

通鉴

福至心灵。祸来神昧。

When one is having good fortune, one's mind tends to be clear. When one is struck by a disaster,one's mind tends to be muddled.

理宗绍定时人语

宋季三朝政要

阴阳眠变理。天地醉经纶。

Words said during the Shao Ding era of Song's Emperor Li. It says that the emperor's chiefadvisor is sick in bed and the emperor himself is too drunk to do anything. These words, ofcourse, were said very indirectly.

里巷为马光祖许堪史嵩之谣

宋季三朝政要

光祖做总领。许堪为节制。丞相要起复。援例。

Words said by people about five court officials who were only good at pleasing the emperorrather than at doing any good work.

池州二士哭赵昴发言

宋季三朝政要

生为大宋人。死为大宋鬼。何以洗此污。清溪一泓水。

Words said by two people who mourned a couple who hanged themselves because of the end ofthe Song dynasty.

京师为伯颜语

庚申外史

上把君欺。下把民虐。倚恃着太皇太后。

Words said in the capital city about Buo Yan who was an official of Song yet surrendered to thenew Yuan dynasty. The words go like this: He lies to the emperor and abuses people under him.He is relying on his close relationship with the emperor's grandmother.

京师人为脱脱丞相语

庚申外史

脱脱丞相开干河。

Words referring to the failed attempt of the emperor's chief advisor, Tuo Tuo, to dig up a canal in the capital city.

江西民为华林贼土官兵谣

炎徼纪闻

华林贼。来亦得。土兵来。死不测。

黄狐跳梁白狐立。十家九家逻柴棘。

A song sung by people of Jiang Xi concerning the bandits and the government troops who weredispatched to eliminate the bandits. The words go like this : It is not too bad when the banditscome, but when the government troops come, we could die easily and everyone no longer has apeaceful life.

广西人为猺蛮谣

炎徼纪闻

盎有一斗米。莫泝藤峡水。囊有一陌钱。莫上府江船。

A song sung by people of Guang Xi about one section of a river gorge in which the bandits got together and stood on the hills overlooking the boats going by, then robbed and killed the travelers.

韩雍引谚论灭猺

炎徼纪闻

救火焉。而嘘之。

When one tries to put out a fire, one should not give the fire more wind to burn higher.

粤西宣慰氏族谚

炎徼纪闻

思播田杨。两广岑黄。

Words referring to the major population groups with the family names of Tian, Yang, Chen and Huang in southwestern and southern China.

播凯二州人为杨氏兄弟谚

炎徼纪闻

骨肉臡醢。参商播凯。

Of all the bloody strife between brothers, Yang You and Yang Ai had the worst case.

苗人复雠谚

炎徼纪闻

苗家仇。九世休。

The feud among the groups of Miao people can be extended to nine generations.

罗罗国谚

炎徼纪闻

水西罗鬼。断头掉尾。

Words referring to some tribal groups in Southern China whose people are violent and takepleasure in bloody conflicts.

两广征猺谚

炎徼纪闻

比年小征。 三年大征。

In Guang Dong and Guang Xi, there is constantly warfare between the Chinese with neighboringtribal groups.

京师为温体仁谣二则

明季北略

崇皇帝。 温阁老。

崇祯皇帝遭温了。

Two songs sung by people in the capital city during Ming Emperor Cong Zhen's reign (the last emperor of Ming), indicating that the emperor has used the wrong person as his chief advisor.

卢州民为许宦妾谣

明季北略

一炮打死二大王。

One cannon shot killed two bandits leaders. Words said by people of Lu Zhou about Xu Huan Qie who lit up the cannon in Lu Zhou when bandits were attacking the place.

四川人为陈士奇谣

明季北略

学宪广文。

Words said by people of Su Chuan about Chen Shi Qi, who was the superintendent of the school system. Under his management, even poor people got to attend the schools.

京师为刘懋谣

绥寇纪略

刘给事裁省驿递。驱民为盗。

A song sung by people in the capital city for Liu Mao, who had proposed some policyconcerning the government system which resulted in the creation of more bandits.

熹宗时童谣

绥寇纪略

天下兵起。遍地皆烟。

When the world is going to have unrest because of rebels, we see smoke first. The smoke refersto a kind of fire therapy used for healing. Smoke therapy seems to be in vogue everytime there isa major unrest.

庆阳军中为张良臣语

明史纪事本末

不怕金牌张。 惟怕七条鎗。

Zhang Liang Chen who had a golden shield is not to be feared; it is his seven god sons who usedspears who should be feared.

李登负罂木歌

明史纪事本末

痈之不决而狃于痏。危巢不覆而令枭止。

A song sung by an oil vendor about how to eliminate different factions of a warlord's followersby using internal strife to make them kill each other.

卷十六

师旷为周太子晋歌

汲冢周书

国诚宁矣。 远人来观。 修义经矣。 好乐无荒。

A song sung by Shi Kuang, the court musician, to Princess Jin of the Zhou kingdom. The words go like this: The kingdom is in such peaceful state that people come from afar to visit. We are working on some scriptures and yet we have not ignored music.

时人为于公严延年语

前汉纪

于公高门以待对。 严母除地以望丧。

Words referring to two different officials who had to do with criminal trials: Yu Ding Guo was good at serving justice, while Yan Yan Lian was always too apt at executing people.

朝廷称张释之于定国语

前汉纪

张释之为廷尉。天下无冤民。于定国为廷尉。天下自不冤。

When Zhang Shi Zhi was the chief judge of the supreme court, there were no people who were framed. When Yu Ding Guo held the same job, the whole country never had any injustice.

宛郡乡里为茨充号

东观汉记

一马两车﹑茨子河。

Words referring to how Ci Chong gave his friend a ride in his own charriot after his friend's horse died.

逢萌哭言

东观汉记

新乎。新乎。

Words cried out by Feng Meng, who was prophesying that Wang Mang's Xin dynasty wouldcome to an end.

汉明德皇后引俗语

东观汉记

时无赭。浇黄土。

Since we do not have the mineral that is used for giving yellow color, we could use yellow sand instead. An idiom meaning that the replacement will not work as the original would.

京师为杨政祁圣元号

东观汉记

说经铿铿﹑杨子行。论难僠僠﹑祁圣元。

Words said in the capital city about two scholars of scripture, Yang Zi Xing, who was good at lecturing, and Qi Sheng Yuan, who was good at debating.

人为陈嚚语

东观汉记

关东说诗﹑陈君期。

In the Guang Dong area, there was Chen Jun Qi, who was good at explicating poems.

更始时长安里闾语

东观汉记

使儿居市决。 作者不能得。

Words said by people of Chang An about how Emperor Geng Shi was employing bad people.

京师称宋度语

谢承后汉书

宋叔平。 一史奏。 罢九卿。

Words said by people in the capital city concerning Song Du, who proposed to impeach all the high-ranking officials in the court.

蜀郡童为黄昌谣

谢承后汉书

两日出。 天兵戢。

A song sung by children in Si Chuan, predicting the arrival of a new governor named HaungChang.

吴人为彭修歌

谢承后汉书

时岁仓卒。盗贼从横。大戟强弩不可当。赖遇贤令子阳。

A song sung by people in the southeast of China about Governor Peng Xiu, who was able to persuade a gang of pirates to leave his territory alone.

京师为唐约谣

谢承后汉书

治身无嫌﹑唐仲谦。

A song sung in the capital city about the official Tang Zhong Lian could keep government secrets, and never took bribes, and never had anything to do with conflicts of interest.

京师为张盘谚

谢承后汉书

闻清白。张子石。

Words said in the capital city about the official Zhang Qian, who would never take money that did not belong to him.

苍梧人为陈临歌

谢承后汉书

苍梧陈君恩广大。令死罪囚有后代。德参古贤天报施。

A song sung by people of Cang Wu praising their governor, Chen Lin, who allowed conjugalvisits for a prisoner who had no son yet.

乡人为秦护歌

谢承后汉书

冬无裤。有秦护。

Qin Hu has no pants to wear in the winter. A song sung by his town's people about how hewas clean on his job, never taking any bribes or gifts.

诸儒为刘恺语

华峤后汉书

难经伉伉﹑刘太常。

Words said by some scholars about Liu Kai, who was always referring to scriptures.

桓帝时人为党人谣

袁崧后汉书

九卿直言﹑有陈蕃。

天下好交﹑荀伯修。

天下冰楞﹑王秀陵。

天下忠平﹑魏少英。

天下稽古﹑刘伯祖。

天下良辅﹑杜周甫。

天下英才﹑赵仲经。

Praises sung by people during Eastern Han's Emperor Huan's reign, concerning a group ofintellectuals who were talented and righteous.

京师称李膺陈蕃语

袁松后汉书

李元礼岩岩如玉山。 陈仲举轩轩如千里骥。

Words said inthe capital city, praising Li Ying and Chen Zhong Ju, who were the leaders of a group of intellectuals trying to reform the government.

南阳为朱公叔语

袁松后汉书

朱公叔肃肃如松柏下风。

Words said by people of Nan Yang concerning Zhu Gong Shu, who was considered very righteous.

时人为公沙氏兄弟号

袁松后汉书

公沙六龙。天下无双。

Words said about the six outstanding sons of Gong Sha Mu.

太原介休乡里谚

后汉纪

欲作郭林宗耶。

Would you like to be Guo Lin Zong, who was always considerate and polite to others?

王昶引谚

梁祚魏国统

知足不辱。 如不知足。 则失所欲。

Once one feels content about what one has, then humiliation does not arise. If one could never feel content, one would never even get what one wished to have.

魏孝文帝菖蒲歌

后魏典略

两菖蒲。 新野药。

A song sung by Wei's Emperor Xiao Wen praising the beauty of calamus.

齐武成殂后谣

三国典略

千钱置果园。中有芙蓉树。破券不分明。莲子随他去。

A song predicting the misfortune of the last emperor of Qi dynasty.

京师为丁谓寇准语

东都事略寇准传

欲得天下宁。当拔眼中钉。欲得天下好。莫如召寇老。

Words said in the capital city about two court officials. If people want peace in the world, then Ging Wei should be gotten rid of, if people want a good world, then they need Kou Zhuan.

益州人为王曙谣

东都事略王曙传

蜀守之良。前张后王。惠我赤子。

而无流亡。何以报之。俾寿而昌。

A song sung by people of Si Chuan praising their good governor Wang Shu. The words said that Wang Shu gave them such good lives that the only way to pay him back was to wish him longevity and prosperity.

京师为范仲淹谣

东都事略范仲淹传

朝廷无忧有范君。京师无事有希文。

A song sung in the capital city praising the court official Fan Zhong Yan. The words said that as long as Fan was in the court, then there were no worries. As long as he was in the capital city, nothing would go wrong there.

军中为韩琦范仲淹语

东都事略范仲淹传

军中有一韩。西贼闻之心骨寒。军中有一范。

西贼闻之惊破胆。

Words said in the military about two generals, Fan Zhong Yan and Han Qi. As long as they wereleading the army, the bandits from the west would be frightened.

广州为邵晔陈世卿歌

东都事略邵晔传

邵父陈母。除我二苦。

A song sung by people of Guang Zhou, praising the fact that their two officials, Shao Ye andChen Shi Qing, were just as good as their parents at eliminating hardships from their lives.

天祚时国人谚

契丹国志天祚皇帝纪上

五个翁翁四百岁。南面北面顿瞌睡。

自己精神管不得。有甚心情杀女直。

A song sung by people of the country Qi Dan (west of China), about how its emperor and his advisors were fairly incompetent in governing the country.

天祚时狂人歌

契丹国志天祚皇帝纪上

辽国且亡。

A song sung by someone with a human head and the body of a beast. The song says that the Qi Dan nation will die out.

明昌四年京师谣言

大金国志章宗皇帝纪上

东欲行。西欲飞。中间一路赤垂垂。我醉不醉知不知。

A folk song sung in the capital about an uprising organized by Prince Zheng in order to take Jin dynasty Emperor Zhang's throne. Prince Zheng and his people were arrested when they were all drunk and asleep.

时人为来虞二氏子语

弘简录

护儿儿作相。世南男作匠。

The son of Hu Er (who was a general before he was executed) became the emperor's chiefadvisor, while the son of Yu Shi Nan (who was the emperor's chief advisor) became a craftsman.

缑氏民为王旭谣

弘简录

永宁三镢。缑氏一缣。

Words said by people of Guo Shi county about their mayor Wang Xu concerning his self-discipline and honesty.

秃刺引俗言

续弘简录

一箭中麋。毋曰自能。百兔未得。未可遽止。

If one shoots a deer with just one arrow, one should not boast about it. When one cannot shoot at one hundred rabbits, then own should start to be afraid of one's incompetence.

时人为吴烈妇谣

续弘简录

红羊年。黑鼠月。张妇吴。俨遗烈。九山风酸泖波血。

二气舛错愁云结。一树梅花惊飘雪。

A song sung by the contemporaries of Ms. Zhang, Wu Miao Ling about their regret that she hadto kill herself because of her sense of guilt and her fear that her father's legal trouble mightimplicate her husband and his family.

方国珍未乱时台州童谣

续弘简录

杨屿青。出海精。

A children's song foretelling Fang Guo Zhen and his brothers' uprising against governmentoppression.

卷十七

单襄公引谚

国语

兽恶其网。 民恶其上。

Wild beasts hate nets, and people hate their superiors.

伶州鸠引谚

国语

众心成城。 众口铄金。

If everyone's mind is put together, even a town can be built. Everyone's deprecation of a piece ofreal gold can turn it into fake gold.

卫彪傒引谚

国语

从善如登。 从恶如崩。

Doing good deeds will take people to a higher level, and doing bad deeds will only bring bad results.

暇豫歌

国语

暇豫之吾吾。不如鸟乌。人皆集于苑。己独集于枯。

Words sung by You Shi, who was dispatched by Li Ji, the king of Jin's favorite concubine to advise Li Ke to see clearly who was in power, namely, Li Ji's son who was just crowned as prince.

舆人诵惠公

国语

佞之见佞。果丧其田。诈之见诈。果丧其赂。

得国而狃。终逢其咎。丧田不惩。祸乱其兴。

Words people said about Jin's King Hui. He bribed his way into kingship but did not pay hisbribe, and eventually the Qin kingdom invaded.

国人诵共世子

国语

贞之无报也。孰是人斯而有是臭也。贞为不听。信为不诚。

国斯无刑。偷居幸生。不更厥贞。大命其倾。威兮怀兮。

各聚尔有以待所归兮。猗兮违兮。心之哀兮。岁之二七。

其靡有微兮。若翟公子。吾是之依兮。镇抚国家。为王妃兮。

Words said about the dead crown prince Shen Sheng of Jin kingdom. A prediction about the future of Jin is also made.

叔詹引谚

国语

黍稷无成。不能为荣。黍不为黍。不能蕃庑。

稷不为稷。不能蕃殖。所生不疑。唯德之基。

If one has a crop of corn and millet that is not going to yield a good harvest, one should just eliminate it.

周宣王时童谣

国语

餍弧箕服。实亡周国。

A children's song indicating the cause of the end of the Zhou kingdom.

诸稽郢引谚

国语

狐埋之而狐搰之。是以无成功。

The foxes bury it and then dig it up. Therefore, the foxes never do anything.

范蠡引谚

国语

觥饭不及壶飧。

A big empty bowl will not eliminate hunger, but a pot of cooked rice mixed with water will.

冯谖弹铗歌

国策

长铗归来乎。食无鱼。

长铗归来乎。出无车。

长铗归来乎。无以为家。

A song sung by Fong Xuan, who lived off what Gentleman Meng Chang provided. The song wasabout how he wanted to eat fish, to have a vehicle, and to have his family provided for as well.

齐婴儿谣

国策

大冠若箕。修剑拄颐。攻狄不能下。垒枯丘。

A children's song about how the Qi general Tian Dan could not take the city of Di, so he couldnot take over the Zhai kingdom.

田单守即墨歌

国策

何往矣。宗庙亡矣。亡日尚矣。归于何党矣。

A song sung by Tian Dan back when he was stranded by the army of Yan kingdom. The words say that if the soldiers do not break out of the impasse, they will have no home, and no country togo back to.

齐人为王建歌

国策

松邪柏邪。往建共者客邪。

A song sung by people of Qi about their Prince Jian. The song predicted that when Prince Jian went to Qin kingdom, he would be confined to a forest of pine and fir.

庄辛引鄙语

国策

见兔而顾犬。未为晚也。亡羊而补牢。未为迟也。

Looking for the hound only when one sees the hare is still not too late. Mending the fence when one loses a sheep is still not too late.

或为黄齐引谚

国策

见君之乘下之。 见杖起之。

One should get off one's vehicle when seeing the king's vehicle coming. One should stand up when seeing that the king is getting his cane and is about to leave.

孟尝君引鄙语

国策

借车者驰之。借衣者被之。

When one borrows someone else's car, one keeps on riding the car. When one borrows someone else's clothes, one keeps on wearing them.

赵武灵王引谚

国策

以书为御者。不尽于马之情。以古制今者。不达于事之变。

One who rides on a horse by reading a book about horses does not know horses well. One whouses an ancient rule to govern the present does not necessarily see the changes that take place.

苏秦引鄙语

国策

宁为鸡口。无为牛后。

One would rather be the mouth of a chicken than be the buttock of a cow.

韩公仲引谚

国策

贵其所以贵者贵。

If one is respected, it is only because one shows one's respect for others first.

燕王引谚二则

国策

厚者不毁人以自益也。仁者不危人以要名。

论不修心。议不累物。仁不轻绝。智不简功。

A kind person would never ruin others in order to get benefit for oneself. A kind person would never damage others in order to establish fame for oneself. When one is discussing a matter, one's self-interest should not get in the way. When one is discussing an object, that object should not be damaged in the process. A kind person would not cut off one's relation with another hastily. A wise person would never be eager to ask for acknowledgment of his or her contribution.

荆轲易水歌

国策

风萧萧兮易水寒。壮士一去兮不复还。

The wind is blowing and the water of Yi River is cold. The courageous man would leave for his mission and never return.

虞美人和项羽歌

楚汉春秋

汉兵已略地。四方楚歌声。大王意气尽。贱妾何聊生。

The Han army has taken over our territory. They are singing our folk songs to make our soldiers lose will power. My King! You have lost your will power as well. How could I love life under these circumstances?

乐师扈子琴歌

渚宫旧事

王兮王兮听谗邪。枉杀左右冤伍奢。奢允怀恨东奔吴。

创雠构祸普破国都。鞭尸戮骸丘墓屠。赖申包胥人获苏。

王虽返国忧未徂。

The musician of the king of Yue sang a warning of the destruction of the kingdom, but KingZhao never heeded this warning.

后汉末京师谣歌

英雄记逸文

河腊丛进。

A song concerning the birth of Emperor Xian sung in the capital city at the end of Han dynasty.

徐温李升相江南时童谣

五代史补

东海鲤鱼飞上天。

A children's song predicting the coming to power of Li Sheng in the southeast of China.

马希广时长沙童谣

五代史补

湖南城郭好长街。竟栽柳树不栽槐。

百姓奔窜无一事。只是搥芒织草鞋。

A children's song in Chang Sha predicting the coming unrest because of the strife among the local ruling Ma brothers.

马希崇时长沙童谣

五代史补

鞭打马。 走不暇。

A children's song in Chang Sha predicting the end of the rule of the local warlord.

时人为贾似道语

钱塘遗事

朝中无宰相。 湖上有平章。

The emperor's chief advisor is not in the court. He lives on the lake and practices remote control over the national affairs.

时人为咸淳省试试题语

钱塘遗事

正院无天子。别院除圣人。广运与天眷。却把比咸淳。

Words said about the essay topics in a provincial civil service test. The topics were all related to the era names of the enemy state Jin

幼主即位时京师为三元语

钱塘遗事

龙在泽。飞不得。万里路。行不得。幼而黄。医不得。

Words said about the names of the top three intellectuals in the national civil service test. Their names are interpreted negatively to reflect the unpromising future of the dynasty.

时人为赵昴发夫妇语

钱塘遗事

臣为君死。 妻为夫亡。

The subject should die for the emperor and the wife should die for her husband.

卷十八

周怡引谚

讷溪奏议

近朱者赤。 近墨者黑。

When one associates with good people, one becomes a good person. When one associates with bad people, one becomes a bad person.

军民为张栻谣

历代名臣奏议

百万生灵由五十学士。

Words said by people and the military about Zhang Shi. The words said that the lives of millions of people are in his hand.

郭祚引古谚

历代名臣奏议

敌不可纵。

One should never let one's enemy escape.

开窦初定州军中谣

历代名臣奏议

三千打六万。

Using an army of three thousand men to defeat the enemy with sixty thousand men.

晏子作歌练起大台

晏子春秋

庶民之言曰。冻水洗﹑我若之何。太上靡散﹑我若之何。

A song sung by Yan Zi to advise King Jing of the Lu Kingdom to stop the construction of a platform in the harsh winter weather in which the laborers were freezing to death.

晏子作歌谏为长庲

晏子春秋

穗乎不得获。秋风至兮殚零落。

风雨之弗杀也。太上之靡弊也。

Another song sung by Yan Zi to advise King Jing of the Lu Kingdom to stop the construction of a house when the annual crop yield was not good, and when a rain storm was going on.

晏子引谚论谗佞

晏子春秋

社鼠不可熏去。

Those people who only know how to please the king and then abuse the power the king entrusted in them are like mice that live in the earth deity's shrine, and are so hard to get rid of.

西王母侍女歌

汉武内传

仰上升绛庭。下游日窟阿。顾盼八落外。远指九空遐。

A song sung by the servant maid of the mythological figure Xi Wang Mu (the Mother of Western King). The song indicates the vast expanse that someone can travel and see.

辽东里老诵邴原

邴原别传

邴君行仁。居邑无虎。邴君行廉。路树成社。

Bing Yuan does only kind deeds, therefore, there is no tiger bothering his neighborhood. Bing Yuan does not take money he sees on the road, but ties it on a tree. That tree covered with moneythen becomes the landmark of his community.

荣阳民为殷褒歌

殷氏世传

荥阳令。有异政。修立学校人易性。令我兄弟耻讼争。

A song sung by people of Ying Yang praising their mayor Yin Bao who was outstanding in terms of building more schools and educating people, to the extent that people were ashamed tohave legal disputes.

时人为殷亮谣

殷氏世传

石里之勇殷子华。 暴虎见之合爪牙。

A song sung by people about the brave man Yin Zi Hua who saw two tigers fighting over a sheep and took his sword out and split the sheep in half for the two tigers to have half each.

宣城民为陶汪歌

陶氏家传

人当勤学得主簿。 谁使为之陶明府。

A song sung by people of Xuan Cheng praising a good scholar who was educating people to become civil servants.

时人为陶覆之语

陶氏家传

定礼决疑。 问陶覆之。

If one has questions concerning the proceedings of a ritual for the ancestral temple, one should ask Tao Fu Zhi.

时人为沉警语

润玉传

玄机布席。 颠倒宾客。

Words said about Shen Jing who was good at reciting poems and was always invited to perform in any social gathering of his time.

时人为贾昌语

东城老父传

生儿不用识文字。斗鸡走马胜读书。贾家小儿年十三。

富贵荣华代不如。能令金距期胜负。白罗绣衫随软舆。

父死长安千里外。差夫持道挽丧车。

Words said about Jia Chang who got a position in the imperial court to organize cock fights to entertain the emperor. He achieved both wealth and fame for that. The words suggeset that aperson who knows mock fighting is better off than a learned scholar.

唐玄宗居南内时歌

太真外传

庭前琪树己堪攀。 塞外征人殊未还。

The beautiful tree in the front of the court yard had grown tall enough for someone to climb on it. Yet the person who went on a military mission beyond the border still has not returned.

时人为杨氏谣

长恨歌传

生女勿悲酸。生男勿喜欢。

男不封侯女作妃。君看女却为门楣。

If one has a baby girl, one should not be sad. If one has a baby boy, one does not have to be happy. Just look at Empress Yang who brought both prestige and wealth to her entire family.

京师为牛僧孺杨虞卿语

牛羊日历

太牢笔﹑少牢口﹑东西南北何处走。

Words said about two court officials, Niu Seng Ru and Yang Yu Qing, who were framing people with different ideas, and causing them to be sent into exile.

辽宫中为懿德皇后语

焚椒录

孤稳压帕女古靴。菩萨唤作耨斡么。

Words said about Empress Yi De in the court of Liao dynasty. The words explain that the empress looks like Guan Yin Bodhisattva.

卷十九

赵岐引南阳旧语

三辅决录注

前队大夫范仲公。 盐豉蒜果共一筩。

Words referring to how Mr. Fan Zhong is not corrupted and has a frugal lifestyle.

关中为游殷谚

三辅决录注

生有知人之明。 死有贵神之灵。

Words said about You Yin who knew how to tell a good person from a bad person when he was alive, and who also knew how to get his revenge with the person who plotted against him and got him killed after his death by coming back to haunt that person.

民为马氏兄弟语

三辅决录注

苑中三公。 钜下二卿。五门嚾嚾。但闻豚声。

Words referring to how five brothers who were high ranking court officials retired and became hog farmers.

三辅为张氏何氏语

三辅决录注

张氏钩。何氏算。何氏肥。张氏瘦。

Words referring to the fortunes of two households. The Zhang household had a lesser fortune that did not last long. The He household had long-lasting good fortune.

鰶鱼谚

三辅决录注

宁去累世宅。不去鰶鱼额。

One would rather lose one's residence passed down through generations than lose the cheeks of Zhi fish.

会稽童为徐弘歌

会稽典录

徐圣通。政无双。平刑罚。 奸宄空。

A children's song in Gui Ji praising the mayor of Shan Yin, Xu Hong, who was just in his enforcement of the law and was able to eliminate all crimes.

人为黄尚左雄谚

楚国先贤传逸文

黄尚为司隶。奸慝自弭。左雄为尚书令。天下慎选举。

When Huang Shang was a law enforcement officer, all the bad people disappeared. When Zuo Xiong was the writer of court reports, the country was careful with the selection of officials.

吴郡济阴民为东门奂歌

鲁国先贤志

东门奂。 取吴半。 吴不足。 济阴续。

That Dong Men Huan, the mayor of Wu county, took half of the Wu county away. But that was not enough, since he took more from Ji Yin county when he was transferred there.

京师为陈蕃周璆号

青州先贤传

陈仲举昂昂如千里骥。 周孟玉浏浏如松下风。

Chen Zhong Ju is as handsome as a strong horse. Zhou Meng Yu is as refreshing as the wind blowing through a pine tree.

襄阳乡里为诸葛庞统司马徽语

襄阳耆旧记

诸葛孔明为卧龙。 庞士元为凤雏。 司马德操为水镜。

Zhu Ge Kong Ming is like a dragon that is hidden from sight. Pang Shi Yuan is like a young pheonix; Si Ma De Cao is like a mirror in that he could see who is good and who is bad.

襄阳里人为庞焕语

襄阳耆旧记

我家池里。 龙种来归。

Words said by people of Xiang Yang about Pang Huan who was nephew of Zhu Ge Kong Ming, the hidden dragon. Pang had retired at his ancestral hometown Xiang Yang. The words said that "That descendant of the dragon has returned to our pond."

惠帝即位时儿童谣

襄阳耆旧记

丙火没地。 哀哉秋兰。 归刑街邮。 终为人叹。

A children's song predicting the death of an emperor and the improper burial of an empress.

荆州民为胡烈歌

襄阳耆旧记

美哉明后。俊哲惟嶷。陶广乾坤。

周孔是则。我武播畅。威振遐域。

A song sung by people of Jing Zhou praising their official Hu Lie.

武陵人为黄氏兄弟谚

襄阳耆旧记逸文

天有冬夏。 人有二黄。

Just as there are both summer and winter, there are the two Huang brothers who are totally different. The older one is a good official and younger one is corrupt.

洛阳人为祝良歌

长沙耆旧传

天久不雨。蒸人失所。天王自出。

祝令特苦。精符感应。滂沱下雨。

A song sung by people of Luo Yang commemorating their mayor for being able to call for rain when they needed it badly.

时人为虞授谚

长沙耆旧记逸文

不读经。 视虞生。

If one does not read Yi Jing ( Yi Scripture), one should see Yu Shou who is never tired of talking about Yi Jing.

会稽民为张霸语

益都耆旧传

城上乌。哺父母。府中诸吏皆孝友。

Words said by people of Gui Ji about their county mayor Zhang Ba who eliminated crimes by educating the people.

益都乡里为柳宗语

益都耆旧传

得黄金一笥。不如柳伯骞所识。

Getting a box of gold is not as good as having Liu Buo Qian recognize one's talent and give one a position.

益都民为王忳谣

益都耆旧传逸文

信哉少林世无偶。 飞被走马与鬼语。

A song sung by people of Yi Zhou concerning two good things Wang Sha Lin did. One was his burial of a stranger who died. The other one was his being able to talk to ghosts to solve a criminal case.

人为高慎语

陈留耆旧传逸文

嶷然不语。 名高孝甫。

Gao Xiao Fu is quite a quiet person.

六县吏人为爰珍歌

陈留耆旧传逸文

我有田畴。爰父殖置。我有子弟。爰父教诲。

A song sung by people of Liu county praising their official Xuan Zhen for being able to manage agriculture well and being able to educate the people in order to eliminate crimes.

筠州人为李公衢语

宜春传信录

输租不使钱。 赖有李屯田。

Words said by people of Yun Zhou praising their deputy mayor Li Gong Qu for being able to stop the corruption of tax officials.

卷二十

四皓隐歌

高士传

莫莫高山。深谷逶迤。晔晔紫芝。可以疗饥。

唐虞世远。吾将何归。驷马高盖。其忧甚大。

富贵之畏人兮。不如贫贱之肆志。

Living in this deep mountain and eating some purple fungus to stop hunger, we cannot go back to the society because of that tyrant. Having wealth and prestige by being a court official comes at a cost. Being poor and having low social status give people freedom.

时人为张氏谚

文士传逸文

相里张。 多贤良。 积善应。 子孙昌。

Words people said about the excellent and prosperous descendants of Zhang Liang who helped Liu Bang in establishing the Han dynasty.

时人为窦武语

群辅录

天下忠诚﹑窦游平。

The most loyal and faithful in the world is Dou You Ping.

时人为陈蕃语

群辅录

天下义府﹑陈仲举。

The most unselfish person in the world is Chen Zhong Ju.

时人为刘淑语

群辅录

天下德弘﹑刘仲承。

The most virtuous person in the world is Liu Zhong Cheng.

时人为郭泰语

群辅录

天下和雍﹑郭林宗。

The most amiable person in the world is Guo Lin Zong.

时人为夏馥语

群辅录

天下慕恃﹑夏子治。

The most admired person in the world is Xia Zi Zhi.

时人为尹勋语

群辅录

天下英藩﹑尹伯元。

The most outstanding person in the world is Yi Buo Yuan.

时人为羊陟语

群辅录

天下清苦﹑羊嗣祖。

The most frugal person in the world is Yang Si Zu.

时人为刘儒语

群辅录

天下宝金﹑刘叔林。

The precious gold of the world is Liu Shi Lin.

时人为蔡衍语

群辅录

天下雅志﹑蔡孟喜。

The most elegant person in the world is Cai Meng Xi.

时人为巴肃语

群辅录

天下卧虎﹑巴恭祖。

Ba Gong Zu is like a tiger that is hidden.

时人为宗慈语

群辅录

天下通儒﹑宗孝初。

The most learned scholar in the world is Zong Xiao Chu.

时人为陈翔语

群辅录

海内贵珍﹑陈子鳞。

Chen Zi Lin is the rare and precious jewel of the world.

时人为张俭语

群辅录

海内忠烈﹑张元节。

Zhang Yuan Jie is the loyal martyr of the world.

时人为范滂语

群辅录

海内謇谔﹑范孟博。

The most honest person in the world is Fan Meng Buo.

时人为檀敷语

群辅录

海内通士﹑檀文有。

The most knowledgeable person in the world is Tan Wen You.

时人为孔昱语

群辅录

海内才珍﹑孔世元。

Kong Shi Yuan is one of the world's rare talented people.

时人为苑康语

群辅录

海内彬彬﹑苑真。

Yuan Zhen has the best manner in the world.

时人为岑晊语

群辅录

海内珍好﹑岑公孝。

Chen Gong Xiao is loved by people in the world.

时人为刘表语

群辅录

海内所称﹑刘景升。

Liu Jing Sheng is the most complimented person in the world.

时人为王商语

群辅录

海内贤智﹑王伯义。

Wang Buo Yi is known in the world to be wise.

时人为蕃向语

群辅录

海内修整﹑蕃嘉景。

Fan Jia Jing is the most particular with regard to his clothing.

时人为秦周语

群辅录

海内贞良﹑秦平王。

Qin Ping Wang is the most loyal subject in the world.

时人为胡母班语

群辅录

海内珍奇﹑胡母季皮。

The most unusual person the world is Hu Me Ji Pi.

时人为刘翔语

群辅录

海内光光﹑刘子相。

The most lustrous person in the world is Liu Zi Xiang.

时人为王考语

群辅录

海内依怙﹑王文祖。

Wang Wen Zu is who the world relies on.

时人为张邈语

群辅录

海内严恪﹑张孟卓。

The most stringent regarding manners is Zhang Meng Zhuo.

时人为度尚语

群辅录

海内清明﹑度博平。

The most honest official is Du Buo Ping.

荆楚为文殊金像谣

莲社高贤传

陶惟剑椎。像以神标。云翔泥宿。

邈可遥遥。可以诚至。难以力招。

A song sung by people of Jing Chu about a gold statue of Bodhisattva Manjushri. A government official was trying to take it away for his own possession but the statue sank into the river. However, when a Buddhist temple was built, the statue emerged to the surface for people to enshrine it in the temple.

时人为寇准语

宋名臣言行录

寇准上殿。 百僚股栗。

When Kou Zhun got into the imperial court, all court officials were scared of him naming their faults.

京师为台官语

宋名臣言行录

绝市无台官。

All the officials responsible for giving ethical advice to the emperor were chased away.

人为岭南八州言

宋名臣言行录

春循奉新。与死为邻。高窦雷化。说着也怕。

There are eight states that are not inhabitable in southern China. If one is sent in exile there, it is like a death sentence. Officials who might offend whoever is in power in the court should be aware of this danger of getting sent to one of those states.

辛文房引谚论富家积书

唐才子传

金玉有余。 买镇宅书。

Those wealthy people purchase books to put on their book shelves for display rather than for reading.

饶州民为陶安歌

明良录略

千里榛芜。侯来之初。万姓耕辟。侯去之日。

湖水悠悠。侯泽之流。湖水有塞。我思侯德。

A song sung by people of Rao Zhou praising their Governor Tao An.

顾璘引谚

国宝新编

琼玫蚤折。白石巀嶪。

A proverb referring to how good things or people do not last long and are always hard to find.

陶婴歌

古列女传

黄鹄之早寡兮。七年不双。鹓颈独宿兮。不与众同。

夜半悲鸣兮。想其故雄。天命早寡兮。独宿何伤。

寡妇念此兮。泣下数行。呜呼哉兮。死者不可忘。

飞鸟尚然兮。况于贞良。虽有贤雄兮。终不重行。

A song sung by the widow Tao Ying. The song is expressing her determination to maitain her widowhood.

秋胡子引谚

古列女传

力田﹑不如逢丰年。力桑﹑不如见国卿。

刺绣文﹑不如倚市门。

Working hard in the field is not as good as having a good crop year. Working hard on raising silk worms is not as good as meeting a government official. Working hard on embroidery is not as good as selling oneself in the market.

赵津女娟歌

古列女传

升彼阿兮。面观清水。扬波兮杳冥冥。祷求福兮醉不醒。

诛将加兮妾心惊。罚既释兮渎乃清。妾持戢兮操其维。

蛟龙助兮主将归。呼来棹兮行忽疑。

A song sung about the wife of Jian Zi. It described how Jian Zi met her and how they got married.

时人为湛贲彭伉语

广列女传

湛郎及第。彭伉落驴。

Zhan Peng passed the civil service test and became a high ranking official. When Peng Kang, who became a county official before Zhan did, heard about the news, he was so shocked that he fell under the as he was riding on.

卷二十一

梁武帝时雉山童谣

梁陈故事

鸟山出天子。

An emperor shall come from a mountain with the name of a bird. A children's song predictingfrom where the next emperor would originate.

梁武帝时童谣

梁陈故事

天子之居﹑在三余。

The residence of the future emperor is at San Yu. Another children's song correctly predicting theresidence of the next emperor in line.

开元末天下唱得宝歌

开天传信记

得宝耶。弘农耶。弘农耶。得宝耶。

A song marking the cause of the change of era name for Tang's Emperor Xuan.

陕州士民为卢奂语

开元天宝遗事

不须赛神明。不必求巫祝。尔莫犯卢公。立便有祸福。

Words said by people of Shan Zhou about their governor Lu Huan who disliked the local rituals.The words said that so long as one does not offend Lu Huan, one would have a good fortunewithout bothering to pray to deities and or doing any ritualistic supplication.

宣和初金民唱臻蓬蓬歌

宣政杂录

臻蓬蓬。外头花花里头空。但看明年正二月。

满城不见主人翁。

A song sung by the Jin people who were allowed to live in the Song dynasty capital ( Hanpeople). The song correctly predicted the abduction of Song's Emperor Hui and Qin by the Jinarmy in the following year.

民间为张惇蔡京蔡卞谣

宣和遗事

二蔡一惇。必定沙门。藉没家财。禁锢子孙。

大惇小惇。入地无门。大蔡小蔡。还他命债。

A song sung by ordinary people during the Xuan He era concerning the evil deeds of theemperor's chief advisor Zhang Chun and his close associates Cai Jing and Cai Bian.

靖康初民间为言路谣

宣和遗事

城门闭。言路开。城门开。言路闭。

Words said among the general population about the court's slow reaction to the urgent threat ofJin.

小民为蔡京谣

太清楼侍宴记附录

蔡京居中人不羡。万乘官家渠底串。

Words people said about Cai Jing who was dominating the court of Song's Emperor Hui. Thewords said that people do not envy the luxurious lifestyle that Cai Jing has, for it is all at the costof many people's misfortune.

金人既退后时人语

避戎夜话

不管肃王。却管舒王。不管燕山。却管聂山。不管山东。

却管陈东。不管东京。却管蔡京。不管河北界。却管秀才解。

Words said about the court's incompetence in dealing with urgent matters after the Jin army'stemporary retreat from the Song territory.

时人为许及之语

庆元党禁

由窦尚书。屈膝执政。

A mockery that people made of one court official who kneeled down to Han Tuo Zhou to get apromotion. At one time he even went into Han's house through the dog's little door.

淳熙诗太学诸生为陈贾语

道命录

周公大圣犹遭谤。伊洛名贤亦被讥。堪叹古今两陈贾。

如何专把圣贤非。

Words that the university students were saying about Chen Jia who was slandering all thehistorically established saints.

秦顺临刑唱歌

辛巳泣蔪录

生为潞州人。死为蕲春鬼。

A song sung by Qin Shun who was one of the guerillas against the takeover of China by theManchurian army. As he was about to he executed by the Manchurians when he sang that hewas born in Lu Zhou and now he would die and become a ghost in Qi Chuan.

谢翱西台恸哭歌

西台恸哭记

魂朝往兮何极。暮归来兮关水黑。化为朱鸟兮有噣焉食。

A song sung by Xie Xiang in his ritual for calling the spirit of Wen Tian Xiang, who had justdied during the fight against the Mongolian takeover of China. This ceremony was performed inpart to express Xie's admiration of Wen and in part so that Wen's spirit would go to the rightplace.

朱揆引谚

钗小志谚曰

白头花细满面。不若徐妃半妆。

A proverb saying that so long as a woman is beautiful, wearing make-up or not does not changeher beauty.

骆妃为元武宗歌

元氏掖庭记

五华兮如织。照临兮一色。丽正兮中域。同乐兮万国。

A song sung by Madam Luo, one of the concubines of Yuan dynasty's Emperor Wu, in praisingthe emperor's virtue to be as lustrous as the bright moon.

卷二十二

张献忠陷蜀时街巷俚语

蜀碧

张家长。李家短。

An idiomatic expression describing someone who likes to go to different households to gossip.

沈荀蔚引童谣

蜀难叙略

生于燕子岭。死在凤凰山。

A children's song predicting the places of birth and death for bandit chief Zhang Xian Zong.

崇祯癸未童谣

痛余杂录

劝你休时不肯休。死在两县夹一州。若还要取沅辰靖。

铁树开花水倒流。

A children's song predicting the demise of a group of bandits.

洪武癸丑童谣

二申野录

胡胖长。官人不商量。

做官﹑没盘缠。

A children's song stating that government positions were for sale.

燕王未起兵时童谣

二申野录

烟烟。北风吹上天。

团团旋。窠里乱。北风来。吹便散。

A children's song predicting Prince Yaun's overthrowing his nephew from the throne.

建文帝种菜歌

二申野录

菜根青兮。菜色辛兮。菜兮菜兮。似余情兮。

A song sung by Emperor Jian Wen when he was growing vegetables, after being expelled frompower by his uncle. The words express his bitter feelings for having become a gardener.

正统己巳童谣

二申野录

牛儿呵莽着。黄花地里倘着。你也忙。我也忙。

伸出角来七尺长。

清俊小后生。青布衫。白直身。好个人。屈死在鹞儿岭。

A children's song sung during the Zheng Tong era of Ming's Emperor Ying. The notes do notexplain the implication of this song. The song was about a cow lying on a yellow flower bed, anda handsome man died for no good reason on a hill.

正德丙寅北京童谣

二申野录

马倒不用喂。鼓破不用张。

A song sung by people of Bei Jing predicting that four court officials would be expelled frompower.

正德己巳川蜀童谣

二申野录

强贼放火。官军抢火。贼来梳我。军来篦我。

A children's song sung in modern day Si Chuan about how government troops, which weresupposed to fight off the bandits, actually gave the people more misery than the bandits did.

海鱼谚

二申野录

海熟田荒。

When the fish price is too low, the fishermen starve.

嘉靖初童谣

二申野录

前头好个镜。后头好个秤。镜也不曾磨。秤也不曾定。

嘉靖二年半。秫黍磨成面。东街咽瞪眼。西街吃磨扇。

姐夫若要吃白面。只待明年七月半。

太庙香炉跳。午门石狮叫。

好黑头虫。一半变蛤蚧。一半变人龙。

A few children's songs sung during the Jia Jing era of Ming's Emperor Shi. The notes do not statethe implications of these songs.

时人为胡明善张孚敬谣

二申野录

石产房州。胡明善祸从地出。星临井宿。张孚敬灾自天来。

Words said about the misfortunes of two officials, Hu Ming Shan and Zhang Fu Jing.

隆庆辛未天鼓谚

二申野录

天爆雉鸡叫。有米没人要。

When there is thunder and chickens are calling, no one wants to buy rice.

时人为张懋修张敬修语

二申野录

首甲幸有三人。云胡仅此二子。

Words said about how Ming's Emperor Shen gave the first place of the national service test to theson of his chief advisor, Zhang Ju Zheng, as a way of rewarding Zhang's good work in thegovernment. In fact, everyone knew that this was an unfair practice.

万历己亥上海民间谣

二申野录

天上鬼车叫。城中放纸炮。不知因甚来。朝廷要纳钞。

A folk song in Shan Hai during the Wan Li era of Ming's Emperor Shen concerning the strangeghostly noise that people heard. People explained that as an indication that the government wasincreasing tax rates and it came to be true.

万历丙辰会试谚

二申野录

火龙无首。

Words said about the national civil service test during one year of the Wan Li era. This year,because of cheating, no one was listed as the winner of the first place of the test.

崇祯辛巳杭城谚

二申野录

湖船底漏。司厨刀绣。梨园饿瘦。上瓦下瓦。抱裯远走。

Words said about the great famine that Hang Zhou was going through during one year of theCong Zhen era.

卷二十三

渔父歌

吴越春秋

日月昭昭乎侵已驰。与子期乎芦之漪。

日已夕兮予心忧悲。月已驰兮何不渡为。事寖急兮当奈何。

芦中人。芦中人。岂非穷士乎。

A song sung by a fisherman to Wu Zi Xu, who took Prince Jian's son to escape from the slayingof Zheng's King Ding. The song was expressing his willingness in helping Wu to escape.

伍子胥引河上歌

吴越春秋

同病相怜。同忧相救。惊翔之鸟。相随而集。濑下之水。

因复俱流。胡马望北风而立。越燕向日而熙。谁不爱其所近。

悲其所思者乎。

A song saying that people could empathize with other people who had gone through the same experience as they had.

申包胥歌

吴越春秋

吴为无道。封豕长蛇。以食上国。欲有天下。政从楚起。

寡君出在草泽。使来告急。

A song sung by Shen Bao Shi, a subject of the king of the Chu kingdom, to the king of the Qin Kingdom, requesting their assistance in recovering his kingdom, Chu, from the invasion of theWu kingdom.

乐师扈子琴曲

吴越春秋

王耶王耶何乖烈。不顾宗庙听谗孽。任用无忌多所杀。

诛夷白氏族几灭。二子东奔适吴越。吴王哀痛助忉怛。

垂涕举兵将西伐。伍胥白喜孙武决。三战破郢王奔发。

留兵纵骑虏荆阙。楚荆骸骨遭发掘。鞭辱腐尸耻难雪。

几危宗庙社稷灭。严王何罪国几绝。卿士凄怆民恻悷。

吴军虽去怖不歇。愿王更隐抚忠节。勿为谗口能谤亵。

A long song that the court musician Hu Zi Qin sang to Chu's King Zhao to remind him of the brutal and sad history of the Chu kingdom and to advise him not to listen to those court offcials who pleased him but only gave him bad advice.

越王夫人歌

吴越春秋

仰飞鸟兮乌鸢。凌玄虚号翩翩。

集洲渚兮优恣。啄虾矫翮兮云间。

任厥兮往还。 妾无罪兮负地。

有何辜兮谴天。颿颿独兮西往。

孰知返兮何年。心惙惙兮若割。

泪泫泫兮双悬。彼飞鸟兮鸢乌。

已回翔兮翕苏。心在专兮素虾。

何居食兮江湖。徊复翔兮游扬。

去复返兮于乎。始事君兮去家。

终我命兮君都。终来遇兮何幸。

离我国兮去吴。妻衣褐兮为婢。

夫去冕兮为奴。岁遥遥兮难极。

冤悲痛兮心恻。肠千结兮服膺。

于乎哀兮忘食。愿我身兮如乌。

身翱翔兮矫翼。去我国兮心摇。

情愤惋兮谁识。

A song sung by the queen of the Yue kingdom when the Yue king was spared his life and allowed to live in the Wu kingdom as a slave after Yue was conquered by the Wu kingdom.

采葛妇歌

吴越春秋

葛不连蔓【叶】台台。我君心苦命更之。尝胆不苦甘如饴。

令我采葛以作丝。饥不遑食四体疲。女工织兮不敢迟。

弱于罗兮轻霏霏。号絺素兮将献之。越王悦兮忘罪除。

吴王欢兮飞尺书。增封益地赐羽奇。几杖茵褥诸侯仪。

群臣拜舞天颜舒。我王何忧能不移。

A song sung by women who were picking plants for weaving very soft fabric to give to the King of Wu. The song expresses their understanding of their own king, the King of Yue, in pleasing the King of Wu in the process of a long-term plan to recover the Yue kingdom.

作弹歌

吴越春秋

断竹续竹。飞土逐【肉】。

A song about the origin of bows and arrows. Originally people were only using rocks to chase away the birds that were eating the corpses of their dead parents to express their filial piety.

军士离别词

吴越春秋

砾躁摧长恧兮。擢戟驭殳。所离不降兮。以泄我王气苏。

三军一飞降兮。所向皆殂。一士判死兮。而当百夫。

道佑有德兮。吴卒自屠。雪我王宿耻兮。威振八都。

军伍难更兮。势如貔貙。行行各努力兮。于乎于乎。

A song sung by family and soldiers of the Yue kingdom when they were going to attack the Wu kingdom to avenge their past humiliation. The song expresses their resolution to die for thismission.

乐师畅辞

吴越春秋逸文

屯乎。今欲伐吴。可未耶。

A song sung by the musician of the King of Yue expressing determination to attack the Wu kingdom for revenge.

渔父歌

越绝书

日昭昭侵已施。与子期甫芦之碕。

心中目施。子可渡河。何为不出。

A song sung by the fisherman to Wu Zi Xu who was escaping from the Chu kingdom. The song is expressing the fisherman's willingness in assisting Wu's escape.

巴人为陈纪山歌

华阳国志

筑室载直梁。国人以贞真。邪娱不扬目。枉行不动身。

奸轨辟乎远。理义协乎民。

A song sung by people of Ba in praising the honesty and virtue of Chen Ji Shan.

巴郡民为吴约歌二则

华阳国志

习习晨风动。澍雨润乎苗。我后恤时务。我民以优饶。

望远忽不见。惆怅尝徘徊。恩泽实难忘。悠悠心永怀。

Two songs sung by the people of Ba to express their eternal appreciation of their mayor for hisgood work.

汉世为唐蒙谚

华阳国志

思都邮。斩令头。

Words said about Tang Meng on how he executed one of his subordinates for being homesickduring a mission.

蜀人为先尼和女张贞妻语

华阳国志

符有先络。僰道张帛。

Words said about the miraculous tales in which people could find the bodies of their drowned loved ones floating on the river after they went to the spot and cried or went into the river to search.

南广郡行人语

华阳国志

犹溪赤水。盘蛇七曲。盘羊乌栊。气与天通。看都护泚。

住拄呼尹。庲降贾子。左儋七里。

Words said about some very dangerous sections of a river for travelers.

时人为何平句扶张翼廖化语

华阳国志

前有何句。后有张廖。

Words said about the chronology of the generals of the Shu kingdom.

巴蜀为谯登文石张罗语

华阳国志

谯登治涪城。文石在巴西。张罗守合水。巴氐那得前。

Words said about the generals that the Shu kingdom had stationed on different key sites so thatbandits could not do much damage.

温县民为王涣歌

华阳国志

王稚子。世未有。平徭役。百姓喜。

A song sung by people of Wen County in praising their mayor for his leadership, which was friendly to the people.

时人为折像宾客谚

华阳国志

折氏客谁。朱云卿。殷节英。中有佃子赵仲平。

但说天文论五经。

Words said about Zhe Xiang who was generous to people and had guests in his house. They would gather and discuss astrology and scriptures.

蜀中为费贻歌

华阳国志

节义至仁﹑费奉君。不仕乱世避恶君。修身于蜀。记名亦足。

后世为大族。

A song sung by people of Shu praising the virtues of Fei Yi.

元康三年蜀中童谣二则

华阳国志

郫城坚。盎底穿。郫城细。子李特细。

巴郡葛。当下美。

Two children's songs sung in the central Shu area about two places, Pi and Ba. About the strong construction of the town of Pi and the beautiful plant called Ge of Ba.

绵竹民为阎宪谣

华阳国志

阎尹赋政。既明且昶。去苛去辟。动以礼让。

A song sung by people of Mian Zhi concerning their good mayor Yan Xian who felt that the education of the people came before punishment.

时人为杨氏四子语

华阳国志

三苗不止。四珍复起。

Words said about the four sons of a woman, Tai Ying, who managed to cultivate her sons well after her husband died.

蜀民为何随语

华阳国志

安汉吏取粮。令为之偿。

Words said by people of Shu about He Sui, the mayor of An Han, who was really honest in that when there was a famine, he took the taro root from people, but then he placed cloth on the sideof the field as his payment.

时人为赵孟语

华阳国志逸文

事有变。问疵面。

If one cannot make one's mind up about something, one should consult Zhao Meng.

北州童为朱项枣嵩谣

十六国春秋

府中赫赫﹑朱邱伯。十囊五囊﹑八枣郎。

A children's song sung in You Zhou about their governor Wang Jun, who was arrogant, ran anextravagant life style, and employed unkind people.

军中为汲桑谣

十六国春秋

士为将军何可羞。六月重茵被衲裘。不识寒暑断他头。

中夜斩首谢并州。

A song sung in the military about Ji Sang, who promoted himself as the commander-in-chiefafter his superior, Prince Yin, died. The song also talks about how he once wrapped himself infur in a hot summer day and had someone fan him. When he did not get cool enough, he simplyasked that fanner be killed.

临水人为张楼谣

十六国春秋

阳平张楼头如箱。见人切齿剧虎狼。

A song sung in Lin Shui about its mayor Zhang Luo who was ruthless in his style of lawenforcement.

陈武引里语

十六国春秋

都亭鼠数闻长者。

Even a mouse in the local pagoda has heard of the revered men in history.

陇上童为王擢谣

十六国春秋

十斗二升沙。谁为王擢家。

A children's song predicting the defeat of a warlord Wang Zhuo.

苻坚时凤皇歌

十六国春秋

凤皇于飞。其羽翼翼。翊我圣后。飨龄万亿。

The phoenixes are flying with very strong wings. They ensure that our empress has a long life.

时人为释道安谚

十六国春秋

学不师安。义不中难。

If one learns from Shi Dao An, one gets the true meaning of everything.

时人为梁氏兄弟语

十六国春秋

关东堂堂。二申两房。未若二梁。瑰文绮章。

Words said about the two Liang brothers, who were both good writers.

赵整讽苻坚歌

十六国春秋

地列酒泉。天垂酒池。杜康妙识。仪狄先知。纣丧殷邦。

桀倾夏国。由此言之。前危后则。

获黍西秦。采麦东齐。春封夏发。鼻纳心迷。

A song sung by a subject of Emperor Fu Jian of Hou Qin dynasty to advise Fu Jian not to drinktoo much since previously several emperors had drunk their thrones away.

平原民为索棱歌

十六国春秋

懿矣明守。庶绩允厘。剖符作宰。实获我思。

A song sung by people of Ping Yuan, praising their governor Suo Leng as a very reasonable andunderstanding ruler.

时人为庞世谣

十六国春秋

庞家之巷。车马辚辚。泥丸之日无吊宾。吊宾不至何所因。

由性苛克寡所亲。

A song sung concerning Pang Shi who was so hard for people to associate with that no one cameto his funeral.

张休祖述时人语

十六国春秋

宁逢三千头虎。不逢张休祖。

One would rather meet three thousand tigers than meet Zhang Xu Zu.

秦雍为辛民兄弟谚

十六国春秋

五龙一门。金友玉昆。

Words praising the Xin brothers, who were all learned.

时人为张冲谣

十六国春秋

推财不疑﹑张长思。

Zhang Chang Si never hesitated to give his wealth away to others.

时人为李始语

十六国春秋

欲养老。属太保。

If one wants to have job security and good retirement benefits, one should work for Li Shi.

吏人为刘聪歌

吏人为刘聪歌

我有贤后。能任元明。政理人殷。

Words praising Liu Cong as a very learned scholar and a good official.

时人为权翼符雅语

十六国春秋逸文

不为权翼富。宁作符雅贫。

One would rather be poor and happy like Fu Ya than be rich and unhappy like Quan Yi.

卷二十四

开宝中南昌市老翁老媪歌

马氏南唐书陈陶传

蓝采禾。蓝采禾。尘世纷纷事更多。争如卖药沽酒饮。

归去深崖拍手歌。

A song sung by an old couple in the city market of Nan Chang during the Kai Pao era. The words say that because this world is messy and unpeaceful, one would be better off to sell someherbs, get wine to drink, and then to go back to the deep valleys and sing.

高酒秃醉歌

马氏南唐书浮屠元寂传

酒秃酒秃。何荣何辱。但见衣冠成古邱。不见江河变陵谷。

A song sung by Yuan Ji who was a Buddhist monk and an alcoholic. The words are: A drunk bold man (only the monk is bold), has no honor or insult. One sees people die and never sees rivers becoming mountains.

李后主时童谣

南唐近事逸文

索得娘来忘却家。后园桃李不生花。猪儿狗儿都死尽。

养得猫儿患赤瘕。

A children's song predicting the end of the Nan Tang dynasty.

吴王称号时广陵黄冠道人歌

钓矶立谈

盟津鲤鱼肉为角。濠梁鲤鱼金刻鳞。盟津鲤鱼死欲尽。

濠梁鲤鱼始惊人。

横排三十六条鳞。个个圆如紫磨真。为甚竿头挑着走。

世间难得识鱼人。

A song sung by a Daoist predicting the rise of the Tang dynasty.

武义中童谣

钓矶立谈

江北杨花作雪飞。江南李树玉团枝。李花结子可怜在。

不似杨花没了期。

A children's song describing strange events such as a poplar tree turning into a plum tree, and a plum tree growing out of an existing plum tree. According to the notes, this song is indicating the transition of power in the Wu kingdom.

蜀中丐者醋头呼语

蜀梼杌

不得灯。灯便倒。

The lamp fell before he even got the lamp. Words said by a beggar implying the fate of Meng Zhi Xiang who died soon after declaring himself to be an emperor.

桂管儿童呼语

三楚新录

大虫来。

The tiger is coming. This is said by children of Gui Guan, predicting the attack of Gu Guan by Li Xun, who is nicknamed Tiger.

杨渥时谣言

五国故事

杨老抽嫩鬓。堪作打钟槌。

A folk saying predicting the attack of Jiang Xi, Zhong's territory, by Yang Wo.

淮南市井小儿唱

五国故事

檀来也。

Words that children sang in Hui Nan predicting the coming of some nothern troops to the south of Hui River.

吴越文穆王治世子府时谣言

吴越备史

何处有鹿脯。

A folk saying correctly predicting the death of a crown prince.

闽人杨叶谣

吴越备史

风吹杨叶鼓山下。不得钱郎戈不罢。

A song sung in the Min area predicting their future ruler's surname as Qian.

商贾为永昌腾越界谣

滇载记

冬时欲归来。高黎共上雪。夏秋欲归来。无奈穹甸热。

春时欲归来。囊中资粮绝。

A folk saying spread by traders about an area in the southwest of China where the weather was extreme. The words say that the area has too much snow in the winter and is too hot and humid in the summer and fall.

段宝据滇时妖巫女歌

滇再记

莫道君为山海主。山海笑谐谐。园中花谢千万朵。

别有明主来。

A song sung by a witch in the southwest of China concerning the short reign of Duan family in that area during the transition period between the Yuan and Ming dynasties. The song predictedthat eventually this place would be under the Ming dynasty's reign.

金大定间谣言

蒙鞑备录

鞑靼去。赶得官家没去处。

A folk saying concerning the threat posed by the Mongolians living in northern China.

宣州人为弘农王言

十国春秋吴沉颜传

何独后予。徯其来苏。

Words said by the people of Xuan Zhou expressing their appreciation of Prince Hong Nong's rule.

华姥山童子歌

十国春秋吴刘得常传

灵菌长。金刀响。

A song sung by a child in Hua Lao Mountain indirectly predicting the death of Liu De Chang.

眉州民为张琳歌

十国春秋

前有章仇后张公。疏决水利粳稻丰。南阳杜诗不可同。

何不用之代天工。

A song sung by people of Mei Zhou praising their governor Zhang Lin's ingenious engineering skill in building a very sound irrigation system.

扬州人为彭玕语

十国春秋楚彭玕传

十金易一笔。百金易一篇。

Words said by people of Yang Zhou about Peng Gan, who was rewarding people with money forbringing him scriptures carved in stone.

拓拔恒引谚

十国春秋楚拓拔恒传

足寒伤心。民怨伤国。

Words said by Tuo Ba Heng to advise his emperor to change his extravagant lifestyle, which the people could no longer support. The words say that: Haiving cold feet hurts one's heart, and having people complaining hurts the nation. The emperor was angered by his words.

虞皋歌

十国春秋闽虞皋传

朝为雄兮暮为雌。天地终尽兮。人生几时。

A song sung by Yu Gao expressing his feelings about life. His message is that nothing is permanent.

卷二十五

韦杜二曲谚

岁华纪丽

城南韦杜。去天尺五。

Words said about the style of two poets.

腊日谚语

荆楚岁时记

腊鼓鸣。春草生。

On the eighth of the lunar month December, people play drums to mark the beginning of the sprouting of spring grass.