Couplets, a literary form that carries the precipitation of our country's culture, and the beautiful vision behind it is actually a profound knowledge. In short, couplets are a kind of literary art that is neat, evenly coordinated, and of far-reaching significance. It is not only a game of words, but also an expression of the author's philosophy of life, a record of customs and customs, and a wish for a better life in the future. Every festive season, every family hangs Spring Festival couplets, not only to add to the festive atmosphere, but also to look forward to the auspicious wishes of the coming year. To understand the beautiful vision behind the couplet, we must first start with the composition of the couplet, which is composed of the upper couplet, the lower couplet and the horizontal batch, each part carries a specific meaning and meaning.
1. The charm and deep meaning of the couplet.
When it comes to couplets, do you think of the pair of red fluttering Spring Festival couplets in front of the door, which reads "New Year's Peace" or "Family Happiness"? Behind these simple words, there is actually a deep cultural accumulation and good wishes.
The origin of couplets can be traced back to the Five Dynasties period in China, but it was in the Song Dynasty that they really prevailed. Its form is so rigorous, the number of words in the upper and lower couplets must be equal, the battle must be neat, and the reading is smooth, rhymed and rhythmic. And its content can be not only a description of natural scenery, but also a quotation of historical allusions, and even an expression of good wishes.
For example, an elder in the family might write a couplet: "The family is harmonious, everything is prosperous, and the country and the people are safe." This is not only a hope for family harmony, but also a prayer for the country and the nation. You see, this simple couplet contains rich cultural connotations and far-reaching blessings.
When analyzing this cultural phenomenon, we find that couplets do not exist in isolation, they interact with art forms such as calligraphy and painting, and they merge with each other. A good couplet is often also a work of calligraphy. Calligraphers not only pay attention to the beauty of the form of the words, but also care about the inner spirit.
Let's talk about the horizontal criticism, which plays the role of icing on the cake in the couplet. If the upper and lower couplets are the development of artistic conception, then the horizontal batch is the sublimation of the theme. For example, "Fushou Shuangquan" is a horizontal criticism, which unifies the following vision into the pursuit of a healthy and happy life.
Poetic couplets
Understanding these, do you feel that the Spring Festival couplets are no longer simple red and black letters, but living cultural carriers, carrying people's deep emotions and expectations?
2. Couplets from the perspective of world culture.
Across thousands of rivers and mountains, let's take a look at whether there are other cultures around the world that have literary forms that resemble couplets. In fact, there are similar ways of expressing wishes and emotions in words in every culture. For example, Western Christmas greeting cards, although the form and couplet are different, but they also carry good wishes.
Deeply into the universal significance of the couplet, it is not difficult for us to find that whether it is a couplet in our country, a greeting card in the West, or a literary work in other cultures, they all have a common feature - to convey emotions and wishes with the help of the power of literature. This phenomenon reflects the common emotional needs and cultural expressions of humanity.
In the customs of the world, we can also find elements similar to couplets. For example, in some cultures, poems are written or ornaments are made to celebrate specific holidays. These traditions, although in various forms, express people's yearning for a better life and prayers for the future.
In detail, for example, the Indian door ornament, rangoli, decorates the door with delicate patterns and bright colors to welcome the gods and pray for the happiness and safety of the family. Although this kind of decoration is a visual art, the cultural significance behind it coincides with the vision in the Spring Festival couplets in our country.
These different cultural practices make us realize that couplets are not only a unique cultural phenomenon in our country, but also reflect the common pursuit of all mankind for beautiful things. From this point of view, the beautiful vision behind the couplet is not only the expectation of our people, but also the resonance of people all over the world.
Through my travel experience, I have seen various forms of decoration and writing in festivals in different countries, and although they are expressed in different ways, they all reveal the same humanistic spirit and yearning for a happy life. This cross-cultural understanding has made me appreciate the value of couplets and similar cultural phenomena more profoundly.
3. The application and dilemma of couplets in life.
In modern society, couplets are not just limited to posting Spring Festival couplets for the New Year. It is used more widely, whether it is in front of a shop, a newlywed home, or a festival, couplets add a cultural touch in their unique way. However, in the process, it did encounter many difficulties.
The first is that the creation of couplets is not easy. Neat, coordinated, and far-reaching – these requirements can be a challenge for non-specialists. My experience is that you might as well start with a simple greeting and try to create, and as you deepen your understanding of traditional culture, you will naturally improve.
Secondly, the pace of modern life has accelerated, and people's attention to traditional culture has declined, resulting in obstacles to the inheritance of the cultural form of couplets. In order to solve this problem, we can let more young people understand and love couplets through education promotion, social ** sharing, etc.
Finally, there is a certain disconnect between the content expressed in the couplet and modern life. For example, modern people pay more attention to personalized expression, while traditional couplets tend to be more religious and solemn. My strategy was to incorporate modern elements into traditional couplets, which would preserve the traditional charm and make the couplets more in line with the modern aesthetic.
In practical application, I have also found that couplets can be used as a "lubricant" to solve the problem of family harmony. An apt couplet can sometimes ease family conflicts and enhance understanding and communication between family members. For example, on a parent's birthday, sending a couplet expressing filial piety can express emotions better than a simple material gift.
In religious culture, couplets also have their place. In temples, couplets are not only decorations, but also expressions of faith. For example, couplets such as "Taoism and Nature" convey respect and belief in Taoist culture.
In Feng Shui knowledge, couplets are also sometimes believed to bring good luck and improve the feng shui of the home. Although this claim lacks scientific basis, it reflects another form of people's pursuit of a better life.
Through these applications and strategies, we can not only better play the role of couplets in our lives, but also help traditional culture to rejuvenate in modern society.