蜀碧

    家。李家短。

    Anidiomaticexpressiondescribingsomeonewholikestogotodifferenthouseholdstogossip——

    沈荀蔚引童

    蜀略

    生於燕子。死在凰山。

    Achildren’ssongpredictingtheplacesofbirthanddeathforbanditchiefZhangXianZong——

    崇癸未童

    痛

    你休不肯休。死在一州。若要取沅辰靖。

    花水倒流。

    Achildren’ssongpredictingthedemiseofagroupofbandits——

    洪武癸丑童

    二申野

    胖。官人不商量。

    做官。

    Achildren’ssongstatingthatgovernmentpositionswereforsale——

    燕王未起兵童

    二申野。北吹上天。

    旋。窠。北。吹便散。

    Achildren’ssongpredictingPrinceYaun’soverthrowinghisnephewfromthethrone——

    建文帝菜歌

    二申野

    菜根青兮。菜色辛兮。菜兮菜兮。似余情兮。

    AsongsungbyEmperorJianWenwhenhewasgrowingvegetables,afterbeingexpelledfrompowerbyhisuncle.Thewordsexpresshisbitterfeelingsforhavingbecomeagardener——

    正己巳童

    二申野

    牛呵莽著。花地倘著。你也忙。我也忙。

    伸出角七尺。

    清俊小後生。青布衫。白直身。好人。屈死在。

    Achildren’ssongsungduringtheZhengTongeraofMing’sEmperorYing.Thenotesdonotexplaintheimplicationofthissong.Thesongwasaboutacowlyingonayellowflowerbed,andahandsomemandiedfornogoodreasononahill——

    正德丙寅北京童

    二申野

    倒不用喂。鼓破不用。

    AsongsungbypeopleofBeiJingpredictingthatfourcourtofficialswouldbeexpelledfrompower——

    正德己巳川蜀童

    二申野

    放火。官火。梳我。篦我。

    Achildren’ssongsunginmoderndaySiChuanabouthowgovernmenttroops,whichweresupposedtofightoffthebandits,actuallygavethepeoplemoremiserythanthebanditsdid——

    海

    二申野

    海熟田荒。

    Whenthefishpriceistoolow,thefishermenstarve——

    嘉靖初童

    二申野

    前好。後好秤。也不曾磨。秤也不曾定。

    嘉靖二年半。秫黍磨成。街咽瞪眼。西街磨扇。

    姐夫若要白。只待明年七月半。太香跳。午石叫。好黑。一半蛤蚧。一半人。

    Afewchildren’ssongssungduringtheJiaJingeraofMing’sEmperorShi.Thenotesdonotstatetheimplicationsofthesesongs——

    人胡明善孚敬

    二申野

    石房州。胡明善地出。星井宿。孚敬自天。

    Wordssaidaboutthemisfortunesoftwoofficials,HuMingShanandZhangFuJing——

    隆辛未天鼓

    二申野

    天爆雉叫。有米人要。

    Whenthereisthunderandchickensarecalling,noonewantstobuyrice——

    人懋修敬修

    二申野

    首甲幸有三人。云胡此二子。

    WordssaidabouthowMing’sEmperorShengavethefirstplaceofthenationalservicetesttothesonofhischiefadvisor,ZhangJuZheng,asawayofrewardingZhang’sgoodworkinthegovernment.Infact,everyoneknewthatthiswasanunfairpractice——

    己亥上海民

    二申野

    天上鬼叫。城中放。不知因甚。朝廷要。

    AfolksonginShanHaiduringtheWanLieraofMing’sEmperorShenconcerningthestrangeghostlynoisethatpeopleheard.Peopleexplainedthatasanindicationthatthegovernmentwasincreasingtaxratesanditcametobetrue——

    丙辰

    二申野

    火首。

    WordssaidaboutthenationalcivilservicetestduringoneyearoftheWanLiera.Thisyear,becauseofcheating,noonewaslistedasthewinnerofthefirstplaceofthetest——

    崇辛巳杭城

    二申野

    湖船底漏。司刀。梨瘦。上瓦下瓦。抱走。WordssaidaboutthegreatfaminethatHangZhouwasgoingthroughduringoneyearoftheCongZhenera.