The two phrases “the book has its own gold house” and “the book has its own face like a jade” have a great origin and come from the verses of Song Emperor Zhenzong in the “Book of Encouragement”. The Song Dynasty revered culture and respected knowledge, and even the emperor spoke for reading. So, is the emperor’s word accurate? Look at the story of Song Qi brothers in the Song Dynasty to know!
Song Qi was a famous lyricist in history, and his brother Song Ziang was an official in the same dynasty, and they were called “big and small Song”, enjoying all the riches in the world. However, a decade or so back, Song Qi’s family is poor, the two brothers often shy when studying, so poor that they can only eat sauerkraut under the rice, not to mention treating guests to dinner.
But one year, the winter solstice, Song Qi brothers still hard to invite classmates to drink for the holiday. The brothers told their classmates, “There’s nothing to entertain for the holidays, but fortunately our ancestors left behind a precious sword, and we were able to take out the silver inlay on the scabbard to set up a banquet.” Song Qi also mocked himself by saying, “If you eat the scabbard on the winter solstice, you should eat the sword on New Year’s Day!”
But don’t worry, although the Song Qi brothers were poor and destitute, they were fortunate to have been born in the Song Dynasty, when the status of the literati was high and the imperial examinations provided an accessible way for civilians to enter the officialdom. The Song Qi brothers were gifted and willing to study hard, so when they became successful in the imperial examinations, the situation was very different!
Song Ziang and Song Qi both took the exam at the same time and both won. Song Ziang ranked first and became the top scholar, while Song Qi, who was already a top scholar, also ended up 10th. They were soon given official positions and were reappointed by the emperor. Song Ziang acted steadily and was made a chancellor after 25 years of service; Song Qi also reached the post of minister and was ordered to write a history book, the New Book of Tang, which we see today because of his excellent literary skills.
After Song became a minister in the court, his life naturally changed drastically. Especially Xiao Song, who knew how to enjoy life, really found the “golden house” and “Yan Ru Yu” in the book.
For example, after he became an official, he was particularly hospitable and did not need to “eat the sword sheath”, but could also make a big show. Song Qi took his guests to drink and have fun in a high-rise building, with several layers of curtains draped outside the house and countless large candles lit inside, looking glorious. During the banquet, there was a lot of drama, beautiful dancers, pleasant music, and everyone ate and drank together and forgot about their worries and time.
After the banquet, the young Song Shang Shu began to work overtime to finish the New Book of Tang. His study was also brightly lit, with maids grinding and spreading paper. Song Qi was in such a luxurious and gentle place, writing his book as if he was a god. The people in the government took a look at it from afar, and they knew that Lord Shang Shu was working on his history. I’m afraid Song Qi is the only one who turned the boring overtime work into an after-dinner pleasure.
Song Qi not only had a marriage rewarded by the emperor, but also had a large number of wives and concubines in his private life, each of whom was dressed in silk and silk and was very beautiful. How many wives did he have? It is recorded that when he attended a banquet in Jinjiang, the weather became cooler and he wanted his wife to bring him a coat. But he didn’t specify who he wanted to send it to, but the wives each sent a coat, and I counted more than a dozen! Song Qi felt that no matter who gave him the coat, it would break the hearts of the others, so he had to endure the cold wind all the way home. With a dozen wives at home, I’m sure it was a huge expense!
Of course, Song Qi was not all about luxury and pleasure. In his old age, he wrote a “testament” to his sons, arranging for his funeral: three days after his death, three days after the burial, the grave only three feet high, surrounded by five cypress trees. In short, the funeral is simple. He also worried that his children would not do as they were told, “You must not disobey my orders.”
During his lifetime, Song Qi lived a life full of high friends, banquets and fun, surrounded by many beautiful women. By entering the civil service through the imperial examinations, he really changed his fate completely and confirmed the famous words of Song Zhenzong. The literati living in the Song dynasty could exchange their knowledge for glory and wealth, so it is no wonder that the Song dynasty was also a dynasty of cultural prosperity and elegance!
(Reference: “Dust History”, “Lao Xue’an Notes”, “Dongxuan Penlue”, “Qian’s Private History”, “Qunshu Class Story”)
Recent Comments