唐志一

    冬至於。Onthedayofthewintersolstice,everyonegrowsoneyearolder——

    伴

    唐音志二

    婆。共。Achildren’ssongreferringtohowthesonofawitchbecameacompanionofanempress——

    王引

    唐五行志

    稼官怕。

    Highgovernmentofficialsareafraidoficestorms——

    露中嵩山

    唐五行志

    嵩山凡。不畏登不得。但恐不得登。

    三度徵兵。旁道打。

    AsongreferringtoEmperorZhong’sthreeattemptstoascendtheSongmountainandconsecrateit.Hefailedeachtimeduetotheunrestofneighboringforeigntribesonthenorthernborder,andonthethirdtime,hedied——

    如意初里歌

    唐五行志

    獐獐草藏。弓射。

    Thoseroebuckshiddeninthebushreallycanshootarrowsandkillyou.WordsreferringtohowanentirearmywaswipedoutbytheQiDantribefromthenorthduringtheTangdynasty——

    元和小

    唐五行志

    打打。三三三。舞了也。

    Achildren’ssongreferringtothedatewhenandthemannerbywhich(anambush)WuYuanHengwaskilled——

    鬼

    唐地理之南道容州下

    鬼。十人九不。OfthosewhogopasttheGatetotheGhostRealm(referringtothecustomontheborderbetweenChinaandpresentdayVietnam),nineoutoftenwillnotcomebackalive——

    州百姓薛大鼎歌

    唐食志下

    新河得通舟戢利。直海至。

    昔日徒行今。美哉薛公德滂被。

    WordsbypeopleofChangZhoupraisingthegoodworkoftheirofficialXueDaDing,whoclearedariverpathtotheocean——

    建德中

    唐建德

    豆入牛口。不得久。

    WordsreferringtothedefeatofawarlordDouJiangDebyPrinceQin,whowasanemperoroftheTangdynasty——

    人屈突氏兄弟

    唐屈突通

    食三斗艾。不屈突。

    服三斗。不屈突通。

    Wordsreferringtothestrictenforcementoflawbytwobrothers,QuTuTongandQuTuGai,whowerebothgovernmentofficials——

    高宗王府官

    唐江元祥

    向儋崖振白。不事江滕虢。

    Peoplewouldratherliveinundevelopedplacesinthetropicalsouththanhavetoliveunderthejurisdictionoffourgreedyandcorruptedprinces:PrinceofJiang,PrinceofTeng,PrinceofJiang,andPrinceofGuo——

    女武王

    唐李君

    有女武王者。

    WordspredictingthecomingtopoweroftheoneandonlyEmpressWuintheTangdynasty——

    廉州邑里游秦歌

    唐籀

    廉州有道。性行同老。人如赤子。不非草。

    AsongsungbypeopleofLianZhoupraisingtheirgovernorsYanLiuandYouQinfortheirkindnesstothepeople——

    周引俚

    唐周

    不。富不奢。

    Thepoorshouldnothavetolearnhowtobefrugalandtherichshouldnothavetolearntobeextravagant——

    景中海

    唐柳亨

    姚宋相。邪不如正。太平用事。正不如邪。

    WordsreferringtohowpeoplerecommendedbyYaoQinandSongJingallbecamegoodofficials,whereaspeoplerecommendedbyPrincessTaiPingwereallbad——

    人李府及其子婿

    唐李府

    今日巨唐年。四凶族。

    ThisisagreattimefortheTangdynasty,sincefourfiercelycorruptedofficialswereeliminated——

    薛仁中歌

    唐薛仁

    三箭定天山。士歌入。

    AsongsungbysoldiersofGeneralXueRenGui,whoconqueredtheJiuXingtribeofTuJui,whichcouldnevercausetroubleagian——

    江淮郝田彭四氏

    唐郝俊

    如郝。富若田彭。

    AmongpeopleofJiangHui,themostpowerfulwereXuandHao,andthemostwealthywereTianandPeng——

    人麟之裴光庭

    唐裴光庭

    麟之口。光庭手。

    People’sjobsweredecidedbywhatYanLinZhi,whowasasubordinatetoPeiGuangTing,saidtoPeiGuangTing,whowastheSecretaryofHumanResourcesatonetimeduringtheTangdynasty——

    益州人吏杜景

    唐杜景

    事意天通。益州司折威。

    WordsreferringtohowtheSecretaryofYiZhouadvisedthenewmilitarychiefofYiZhou,FangSiYe,nottoimposehispoweronpeoplebeforetheofficialnoticehadarrived.ItturnedoutthatFangSiYewasappointedthemilitarychiefofJingZhouinsteadofYiZhou——

    人徐有功杜景俊臣侯思止

    唐杜景

    遇徐杜者必生。遇侯者必死。Amongthefourprisonofficials,whoevermetXuandDuwouldlive,andwhoevermetLaiandHouwoulddefinitelydie——

    人敦任愿

    唐任愿

    洛州有前後。可京兆三王。WordsreferringtotheeffectivelawenforcementofJiaandZhang,thegovernersofLuoZhou——

    人嘉

    唐嘉

    令公四俊。苗。

    TherearefouroutstandingofficialsworkingunderZhangJaiZhen,theInteriorSecretary:Miao,Lu,Yuan,Cui——

    司府吏人尹思

    唐尹思

    不畏侯卿杖。惟畏尹卿。

    OneshouldnothavetobeafraidofHuoZhiYi’ssticksbutshouldbeafraidofYiSiZhen’spen——

    人愿

    唐愿

    吏部前有裴。後有李。

    IntheDepartmentofHumanResources,therewerefourgoodofficials,theealiertwowereMaandPei,thelatertwowereLuandLi——

    玄宗人唱得体歌

    唐

    得体那也。囊得体耶。潭船。

    州器多。三郎殿坐。看唱得体歌。

    AsongconcerninghowanarticifiallakewasbuiltinthecapitalcityofChangAnunderWeiJian’ssupervision.Theodditieswerehisenforcementoflicenseplatesforboats,boatmeninuniformsthathadasouthern(tropical)style,andthegoodsfillingthoseboats——

    崔成甫使人唱得歌

    唐

    得弘野。弘得那。潭船。

    州器多。三郎殿坐。看唱得歌。

    AsongthatthecountymayorofShanmadesomewomensing.ThesongconcernedanauspiciousomenthatwasfoundinHongNong,andtheboatsinthelakeseeninthepreviousitem——

    京李

    唐李

    欲得米粟。追李。Asongsungbypeopleofthecapitalcity,whichhadrainforoversixtydays,causingthepriceofricetoskyrocket.Thegoodmayor,LiXian,wasblamedforthenaturaldisasterandwassentofftosouthernChina.ThesongsaysthatonlyLiXiancouldbringthepriceofricebackdown——

    群醉歌

    唐群

    祥瑞不在凰麒麟。太平得忠臣。霍真奉主。

    貔虎十一身。江河注息浪。貊款塞。

    但得百寮肝。不用三金。

    AsongsungbyLuQunwhenhewasdrunk.Thesongwasabouthisfeelingthathistalentsandloyaltywereunknownbythosewhohadpowertomakehimanofficial——

    人

    唐

    射前氏遮。後作公主邑丞。WordsreferringtoDuoHuiZhen,whogothispettyjobsbypleasingtheempressandprincesswhoseunwiseprojectsheserved——

    人武懿宗何阿小

    唐武懿宗

    唯此何。人最多。

    ThesetwoHe’shadkilledthemostpeople.WordsreferringtohowoneTangEmperorYi,whenhewasPrinceofHeNei,killedmanycivilianswhowerereturnedafterbeingabductedbyaforeigntribe,QiDan.TheotherHewasageneralofthatforeigntribe——

    郢州百姓田仁歌

    唐田仁

    父母育我田使君。精人上天。田中致雨山出。

    既申。但常在不患。

    AsongsungbypeopleofYingZhou,praisingitsgovernorTianRenHuiforbeingabletogetrainforthemsothattheirstorehousewasfilledwithgrain——

    人傅孝忠姜度

    唐姜度

    傅孝忠眼看天。姜度一心穿地。

    FuXiaoZhongwasgoodatastrology,andJiangShiDuwasgoodatknowingwhereundergroundwaterwas——

    中宗人

    唐崔

    皇后嫁女。天子娶。Wordsreferringtoaroyalmatrimonybetweenadeadprincess(theemperor’smaternaluncle’sdaughter)andadeadprince(theemperor’syoungerbrother).Thefamilyofthedeadprincessobtainedmuchdowryforthemarriage——

    天中人

    唐

    殷柳。李邵。

    Wordsaboutthetruefriendshipamongeightmen——

    州族李太李孝端

    唐李知木

    太兄。孝端弟。

    Wordsabouttwocousinswhoweregovernmentofficials,LiTaiChongandLiXiaoDuan.TaiChong’srankwashigherthanXiaoDuan’s——

    人氏兄弟

    唐德仁

    行可德基。文彬彬德仁。

    BothHeDeJiandHeDeRen,whoarebrothers,arelearnedpersons——

    四郡人德

    唐

    食三斗蒜。不逢德。

    OnewouldrathereatlotsofgarlicthanconfrontthestrictofficialYangDeGan——

    果引

    唐果

    娶得公主。平地生公府。

    Ifoneweretobemarriedtoaprincess,itwouldbelikecohabitingwithahighauthorityinstantly——

    高昌童

    唐高昌

    高昌兵如霜雪。家兵如日月。

    日月照霜雪。手自消。Achildren’ssongfromakingdominpresent-daynorthwestofChina.Thewordsgolikethis:thearmyofGaoChangislikefrostandsnowandtheHanarmyislikethesunandthemoon.Thefrostandsnowmeltswhenshoneduponbythesunandthemoon——

    乾符中言

    唐巢

    金色蟆努眼。翻曹州天下反。ArumorpredictingtheHuangChao’suprisingagainstthecentralTanggovernment——

    大理囚袁仁敬歌

    唐逸文

    天不恤冤人兮。何我慈兮。

    有理申兮。痛哉安兮。

    TheprisonersofDaLimournedthedeathoftheirwarden.Theycriedoutthesong:Heavenhasnomercyonpeoplewhohavebeenframed.ThatiswhyittookYuanRenJing,whowasasdearasourparent,away.Fromnowon,wehavenowayofpetitioningourinnocence——

    人妃

    唐五行志一

    髻河。裙逐水流。TheempressYangTaiZhenthrewherwigsandyellowskirtsoutintotheriver——

    露初京城民

    新唐五行志二

    堂堂。堂堂。

    AfolksongsunginthecapitalcityofTangproclaimingthatdepitethemessyinternalpowerstruggleintheimperialcourt,theTangdynastywouldcontinueon——

    永淳中童

    新唐五行志二

    新禾不入箱。新不入。迨及**月。狗吠空垣。Achildren’ssongpredictingthattherewouldbenoharvestforaspecificyearbecauseoftoomuchrain——

    永淳後民歌

    新唐五行志二

    柳柳漫。AfolksongpredictingthefailureofawarlordnamedXuJingYei——

    神後民

    新唐五行志二

    山南窠。山北金。柯不孔。斧子不施柯。WordsreferringtohowtheTangterritorywasbotheredbytheinvasionsofTuJuiandthereforepeoplecouldnotevenfarmorharvestregularly——

    神後童

    新唐五行志二

    可安寺。了了。

    Achildren’ssongreferringtothedeathofPrincessAnLe,whoseheadwascutoffandhungonatree——

    景中民

    新唐五行志二

    子挽。足踏地鞋【麻】。城南子。

    AfolksongreferringtothefailureofanuprisingorganizedbyWei——

    又景中

    新唐五行志二

    可善寺。身著毛衣。河。踏。

    AfolksongreferringtothefailureofanuprisingorganizedbythePrinceofJiao,whokilledhimselfbyplungingintotheLuoRiver——

    潞州童

    新唐五行志二

    羊山北作朝堂。

    Achildren’ssongpredictingtheimperialvisitbyEmperorXuan——

    安山未反童

    新唐五行志二

    燕燕上天。天上女白。上有千。Achildren’ssongpredictingthemajoruprisingofAnLuShan——

    幽州

    新唐五行志二

    戴竿。今日不堪看。但看五月。清水河契丹。

    AsongpredictingtheinvasionoftheQiDantribe——

    朱未前童

    新唐五行志二

    一箸。朱。五六月。化蛆。

    Achildren’ssongpredictingthedeathofawarlordnamedZhuCi——

    咸通七年童

    新唐五行志二

    草青青。被霜。始。看狂。

    Thegrasswasgreenbeforeitwascoveredbybitterfrost.Lookatthecrazymessinthecountry——

    咸通十四年成都童

    新唐五行志二

    咸通癸巳。出所之。蛇去。

    道路稍。片瓦。地有灰。

    Duringthisyear,peoplecouldnotreallygetanywhere.Nextyear,itshouldbebetter.However,peoplewillstillnothaveastablelife——

    乾符六年童

    新唐五行志二

    八月霜塞草青。出空城。

    家天下西巡狩。向江更索兵。

    InthemonthofAugust,therewasnofrostandthereforethegrassoutsidethenorthernborderwasgreen.Thegeneralrodeonhishorseoutoftheemptycity.TheHan’semperortravelledtothewest.Itwasasthoughhewasinvitinginvasionfromwarlordsinthesoutheast——

    中和初童

    新唐五行志二

    巢走。泰山。死在翁家翁。

    Achildren’ssongconcerningtheplaceandmanner(killedbyhisownsubordinate)ofdeathforHuangChao,whoorganizedanuprisingagainstthecentralgovernment——

    匠

    新唐食志三

    古匠墓。

    Guidesforcrossingacertainriverwithunderwaterrocksusuallydrownaftershipwreck;thereforetherearegenerallynogravesforthesepeople——

    南民段文昌

    新唐段文昌

    旱不苦。而雨。雨不愁。公出游。

    PeopleofJingNanpraisingDuanWenChang,ageneralstationedthere.Hecouldsomehowcontroltheweather.Whentheyneededrain,hecouldmakeitrain.Whentheywanteditsunny,hecouldmakeitsunny——

    崔仁引

    新唐崔仁

    人刖足。亦皆有。

    Thereshouldberulesguidingtheexecutionofpeopleandthecuttingoffoftheirlegs.Inotherwords,thepunishmentshouldfitthecrime——

    人恩

    新唐恩

    三斗。逢恩。Onewouldratherdevouragreatamountofdustthanconfrontthestrictlawenforcer,QuanHuiAn——

    人李

    新唐李

    李下蹊。

    ThereisnoshortcuttogettingfavorsfromLiYi——

    哥舒翰引

    新唐哥舒翰

    狐向窟嗥不祥。

    Itisnotauspiciousforafoxtohowlatitsowncave——

    安民于氏兄弟歌

    新唐李叔明

    前尹赫赫。具瞻允若。後尹熙熙。具瞻允斯。

    AsongsungbypeopleofChangAn,thecapitalcity,praisingtheirtwomayorswhowerebrotherstoeachother——

    人崔

    新唐崔

    段薛。炙手可。欲得命通。瑰蒙。

    WordsreferringtothefourpowerfulconsultantsofCuiXuan,whowastrustedbytheemperoratthetime——

    人三

    新唐虞卿

    欲。可。三我。Ifonewantstotakethecivilservicetest,oneshouldaskforadvicefromSuandZhang.SuandZhangmaygivegoodadvice,butthebestadvicewouldcomefromYangYuQing——

    真源邑中南金

    新唐巡

    南金口。明府手。WordsabouthowHuaNanJin,whowasabusinghispowerasakeyoffcial,wasexecutedbyGovernorZhangXun——

    者李沈宋

    新唐宋之

    李居前。沈宋比肩。

    Wordsreferringtofourpoets’styleofpoetry——

    李邕妻引

    新唐李邕

    士不肖。入朝疾。

    Therearenosuchthingasgoodorbadpeople,sinceaslongastheyserveintheimperialcourt,jealousycomesaroundtothem——

    唐八人

    新唐

    前有沈宋王杜。後有郎李。WordsabouteightpoetsduringtheTangdynasty——

    武三思干政天下

    新唐武三思

    崔冉。政。Wordsreferringtothepeoplewhoweremessinguptheimperialcourt,andwhogottheirpowerfromallyingwithWuSanSi——

    京里

    新唐王旭

    若教。值三豹。Acursethatpeopleusedwhenswearingagainsttheirownactions.ItsaysthatifIweretohavegoneagainsttheteaching(ofsomethingnotspecified),thenIwouldmeetanyofthethreeruthlessofficialsinthecapitalcity——

    人魏牙

    新唐威

    安天子。魏府牙。

    ThepeoplefromtheWeiYaarmycampwereliketheemperorsinthecapitalcity.Thisisreferringtotheunreasonableandillicitbehaviorofthesemilitarypersonnel——

    蜀人吐蕃南

    新唐四夷列序

    西戊尚可。南我。

    WordsreferringtotheaggressivelyandviciouslystrongmilitaryforceofTuFan,whichisthepresentdayTibet——

    言忠引

    新唐高

    媒。中道回。

    Ifamilitarymissionhasnoguidewhoknowstheinsideinformationoftheopponents,itwilllikelyhavetoretreathalfoftheway——

    巢中

    新唐巢

    逢儒肉必覆。

    Ifintellectualswhoknownothingaboutawarfareareattackedinamilitaryaction,thenthatactionwilldefinitelyfail——

    太白山神

    五代史唐末帝上

    三珠一珠。人。月甲庚午。中戊己土。

    Wordsspokenbyafortunetelleraresaidbyamountaindeity.However,thefortunetellersaidhecouldnotinterpretthesewords.Hebecameanadvisortotheemperoranyway——

    唐末帝

    五代史唐末帝上

    去欲生菩。扶起一。

    Asongsungbythemilitarycomplainingaboutthemeagerpaytheyreceiveforprotectingtheemperor——

    唐昭宗引俚

    新五代史寇卿

    干山死雀。何不去生。

    AnidiomreferredtobyTang’semperorZhao,sayingthatinsteadoffreezingtodeathinacoldmountain,peopleshouldgosomewherewheretheycouldlive——

    郭崇故人子弟引俚

    新五代史郭崇

    虎者不得下。

    Onceapersonridesonatiger,itishardforthatpersontogetdownfromthetigerwithoutbeinghurt——

    王章引俚

    新五代史王章

    豹死留皮。人死留名。

    Whatisleftbehindbyaleopardwhenitdiesisitsskin,andwhatisleftbehindbyapersonwhenheorshediesishisorherreputation——

    杜重威引俚

    新五代史杜重威

    逢得命。更望子乎。

    Ifonesurvivesaconfrontationwithbandits,oneisluckyenoughandshouldnotthinkaboutgettinganythingelse——

    越王歌

    新五代史越世家

    三兮衣。碧天朗朗兮日。

    功成道上兮列旌旗。父老相追。

    家山眷兮稀。今朝宴兮觥散。

    牛斗孛人欺。越一王。

    AsongsungbyQianLiuwhowascrownedasakingbyTang’semperorZhao.Thesongisabouthowheloveshishometownandhispeople——

    人守明歌

    新五代史世家。

    九。惟一郎。

    Whocallsforthemakingofthatnine-dragoncanopy?Hewillnotgettouseitbuthiswife’sloverwill.