南史宋明帝

    禾眼。胡母大橐。

    Wordsreferringtoapowerfulyetverycorruptedofficialinthecourtatthetime——

    永明中魏地童

    南史武帝

    赤火南流南。

    Achildren’ssongpredictingtheendofadynasty——

    百姓昏侯歌

    南史帝昏侯

    武堂。柳。至尊屠肉。潘妃酤酒。

    AsongsungbypeopleconcerningthelastemperorofQi,whowasathisbestindulginginsillyandunnecessaryluxuriesandplays——

    柳摩引北方童

    南史武帝

    石。青。

    Achildren’ssongcorrectlypredictingthedifficultiesofamilitaryactionagainstthecurrentcityofNanJinginthesouth——

    梁童

    南史武帝

    夫。入五湖。城南酒家使奴。

    Achildren’ssongconcerningthefailureofamilitaryactionbyanorthernkingdomagainstasouthernkingdom——

    人歌

    南史後主。寇畔。

    AsongsungbypeopleoftheChenkingdomconcerningmilitarypersonnelwhomtheythoughttheycouldcounton,withoutfearinginvasionfromotherkingdom——

    人入唱

    南史後主

    主。

    Asongsungbyawoman,whosewordspointtotheemperorastheonewhowouldendtheChendynasty——

    李延引梁末童

    南史本

    可巴子。一日行千里。不上郎。

    但起。人衣。皂相料理。

    Achildren’ssongpredictingthetransitionfromoneshort-liveddynastytoanother——

    湘王府中弘徐

    南史徐君。

    北路。南路徐。

    Wordsconcerningtwoverywastefulmenofthetime——

    人檀道歌

    南史檀道

    可白浮。枉檀江州。

    Asongexpressingtheirsorrowregardingtheslayingofageneral,TanDaoJi,andhissevensons,duetoapowerstruggleintheemperor’scourt——

    人王志王彬

    南史王志

    三真六草。天下。

    WordspraisingWangZhiandWangBinasthegreatestcalligraphersoftheirtime——

    人王

    南史王

    欲向南。可。遂向……

    WordsaboutthegreatcostforWangYing,ahighrankingcourtofficial,toexpandhishousesouthwards.Heeventuallyexpandedeastwardofhishouse,whichcostalotless——

    百姓袁粲褚回

    南史袁粲

    可石城。袁粲死。不作回生。

    WordsabouthowoneshouldemulatealoyalsubjectlikeYuanCan,whowouldratherdiethanserveanotheremperorwhichwaswhatChuYuanHuidid——

    人周三姓

    南

    三人共宅清漳。南周北中央。

    Wordsreferringtothethreegoodwritersofthetime:ZhangRong,ZhouYu,andLiuHui——

    北中

    南史川惠王宏

    不畏娘姥。但畏合肥有武。

    WordssaidbythemilitarypersonnelfromtheWeidynastyofthenorth,whowerewaitingtodoabattlewiththeapproachingarmyofLiangdynastyfromthesouth.Theycomparedthecommander-in-chiefandthegeneraloftheLiangarmytowomen,sincethesetwoorderedaretreatwithoutevenfighting——

    百姓正德父子

    南史川王宏子正德

    逢五虎入市。不欲父子。

    WewouldratherconfrontfivetigersinthemarketthanmeetPrinceLinHeandhisson.Thisisdescribingtheruthlesscharacterofthisfatherandsonpair——

    梁武帝接民恪歌

    南史南平王恪

    江千。蔡五百。王新。庚大宅。主人不如客。

    WordsabouthowPrinceKewasconnedbyhishouseguestswhoendedupricherthantheirhost——

    梁武帝童

    南史鄱王

    莫匆匆。且公。作天子。草覆己。

    Achildren’ssongmaybepredictingwhowouldbecomethenextemperor.ThissonggavePrinceFanalotofhope——

    昭明太子

    南史昭明太子

    鹿子城。城鹿子。未。使我心徘徊。

    城中少年。逐去。

    ArumorabouthowPrinceZhaoMingwoulddieandhowEmperorWu,inhissorrowwouldtakehimalongtimetodecidewhichofhissonsmightsucceedthepostthatPrinceZhaoMinghadleftempty——

    巴行人庚子歌

    南史庚城

    氵㸒如本不通。瞿塘水退庚公。AsongsungbypeoplewholivedalongoneofthethreegorgesofYangTziRiverinpresentdaySiChuan.ThissongisabouthowthewaterofQuTangebbedforafilialson,YuZiYu,togoacrosstheriveronhiswaytakinghisfather’scorpsehome——

    南州士庶江革

    南史江革

    故人不道智。新人佞散。莫如度不度。新人不如故。

    WordsabouthowreplacingJiangGewithWangTanCongastheofficialofNanZhouwasabadidea.JiangGewasreplacedsimplybecausehedidnotflatterpeoplewhowereclosetotheemperor——

    人正

    南史客卿

    不逢噪。不逢佐。

    Wordsaboutthreeveryactive,young,talentedbrothers,BaoJian,BaoZhengandBaoZhi.Peoplemetthemeverywheretheywent,justasonehearsbirdschirpingeverywhere——

    父答歌

    南史逸父

    竹竿。河水。相忘。吞。非夷非惠。

    聊以忘。

    AsongsungbyafishermantoSunMian,whowasadvisingthefishermentobecomeagovernmentofficial.Thefisherman’ssongwasthis:Iamfishingnotforthefishorthemoney,butsimplytoenjoytheviewoftheriverandforgettheworriesoflife——

    人沈麟士

    南史逸沈麟士

    差山中。有士。教授局城市。Wordsaboutahermitwholivedinthemountains,yethehaddiscipleswhobuilthousesaroundhim,sothateventuallyitwasasifacitysurroundedhim——

    陶弘景歌

    南史逸陶弘景

    水王木梁字。

    AsongsungbyahermitsayingthatthenameofthenextdynastywouldbeLiang——

    都下民

    南史恩茹法珍

    欲求依刀敕。得富豪事(捉)(御)刀。Ifonewantstogethighpayingjobs,oneoughttodependonthosewhoareinpower.Ifonewantstogetrich,onewouldhavetowaitonthosewhoareinpowerasiftheyweretheemperor——

    昏侯中言

    南史恩茹法珍

    鬼食削。鬼著。Arumorinthecourtabouthowthosepeoplewhoinfactranthecourt,ratherthantheemperor,wouldallbekilledandcooked——

    侯景的童

    南史侯景

    的。拂朱雀……

    Achildren’ssongpredictingthatHouJing’sreignwouldbeshort-lived——

    州天子

    南史侯景

    青袍。著芒。州天子挺著。

    AsongabouthowHouJingwashavingahardtimeholdingontothethrone——

    江陵童

    南史侯景

    苦竹町。市南有好井。危州。侯景。

    Achildren’ssongpredictingtheslayingofHouJing,whoseheadwascooked,painted,anddisplayedasanexhibition——

    人殷

    南史逸文

    奇才殷往嗣。

    YinWangSiwassuchageniusthathewasconstantlyreadingandmemorizingmanyscriptures——

    魏宣武孝明

    北史魏孝武帝

    狐非狐。貉非貉。焦梨狗子索。

    ArumorpredictingthecomingtopowerofYuWenTai——

    文宣受童

    北史文宣帝

    一束槁。然。河【羝】上天。

    Achildren’ssongpredictingthecomingtopowerofGaoYang,WenXuanemperorofNorthernQi——

    天保童

    北史文宣帝

    子入石室。三千六百日。Achildren’ssongcorrectlypredictingthatthereignofGaoYangwouldbeexactlytenyears——

    河民元淑

    北史常山王遵附其淑

    泰州河。杼柚代舂。元公至止。田始理。

    AsongsungbypeopleofHeDongpraisingtheirGovernorYuanShu,whomadethemlearnagricultureinordertohaveamoresustainablelifethanthatbasedontrading——

    文林中

    北史俟附

    五有。

    LuYihassomuchknowledgeofthefivescripturesthatnoonecouldeverchallengehim——

    下李氏兄弟

    北史李。口。

    AmongthethreebrothersoftheLihousehold,theircompetenceinlearnednessareinthisorder:Hunisthefirst,Huiisthesecond,andWeiisthethird.Theirloquaciousnessisinthisorder:Huithefirst,Weithesecond,andHunthethird——

    人李普

    北史李子雄附族弟普

    入入李普。

    LiPuJiisgoodineveryway——

    人李深

    北史李深

    戟森森李深。

    LiYiShenhastalent,yetheistooselfishandgoodatscheming——

    人休之

    北史休之

    能能休之。

    YangXiuZhiisgoodatwritingpoems——

    人

    北思伯

    生不免。不人衣。

    WordsabouthowYinFongwassillytopawnhisclothesinordertopayhistuitiontohistwoteachers,whoeventuallywereallsuccessfulandrich——

    李延引鄙定

    北史昭

    利以昏智。

    Profitsalonecanmakeawisepersondelirious,letalonesomeonewhoisnotwise——

    人唐永

    北史唐永

    莫梁。恐逢唐。

    Wordsaboutageneralwhosearmywasstationedonthenorthernborder.Hewasthereforfouryearsandneverlostasinglebattle——

    隋帝并州言

    北史隋庶人

    一……客量小作天子。

    Arumoraboutwhowouldbecomeanemperor.YangLianginterpretedthisrumorinhisfavorbutfailedinhisattempttotakeoverthethroneanddiedinprison——

    冀州人

    北史熊安生

    公。宋公鼓。宗道屐。李洛姬肚。

    WordsbypeopleofJiZhouaboutthefourbiggestoffourlocalpeople.Onemonkhasthebiggestbell.Mr.Songhasthebiggestdrum,Mr.Zonghasthebiggestwoodenshoes,andMr.Lihasthebellyofapregnantwoman.