Rural sayings to delight the mind, Wu Xia Proverb Links - Qing Dynasty

Author: Li Guangting et al
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Excerpt: The face is so sharp that it hurts, as if it were cut by an ancient poem. Some say to stand in the wind and endure it. Others say to raise the flag with the wind and set fire with the wind, which reflects the ways of the world and human nature. As for the wind being wild and fierce, do not provoke it; for the wind's words, do not listen to them; for the two-faced wind, do not follow it; when the wind blows, it is like an ancient proverb. It can also be called the Wind Person.
6 On Clouds
The Book of Rites states: Bao Zhang Shi uses five types of clouds to distinguish auspicious and inauspicious signs, such as water, drought, abundance, and scarcity. The Zuo Zhuan says: When the sun reaches its peak or nadir, the opening or closing must be recorded, and the colors of the clouds must be noted. "Things" refer to colors, the colors of the clouds near the sun. When Han Wei Gong passed the imperial examination and was called out by name, the court astronomer reported the appearance of five-colored clouds. In celestial omens, there are five-colored clouds, and in human omens, there is Zheng Ren Biao. Five-colored clouds are rare to see. The locals call clouds "cloud picks," and "pick" also means color. Clouds have picks, just as the moon has light. To call the moon "moon," then to call clouds "cloud picks" is appropriate. Clouds are the mother of rain; farmers first look at the clouds when waiting for rain. The saying goes: "Clouds with a flat top mean rain is coming." To love clouds means to hate wind; "Yellow clouds rising mean wind will blow." When watching clouds, first look at the sun: "Evening clouds like burning fire mean bright sunshine tomorrow." Also, "If clouds move east, there will be a big wind. If clouds move west, wear a raincoat. If clouds move south, sail a big boat. If clouds move north, there will be heavy rain." Though these are children's rhymes, there must have been some truth to them at first. In summer, they say "annoying clouds," meaning there are many peaks. In July and August, they say "skillful clouds," meaning autumn clouds are like silk. To call the scattered clouds "one piece of cloud pick, one piece of rain" means they are not widespread. Also, "one piece of cloud pick after another, who knows which piece has rain?" This is what is called "though one cloud brings scattered rain from heaven, it still depends on the clouds gathering over the four mountains." To call someone who flatters others, "they have been lifted to the eye of the cloud," and to see how they come down—this is what is called "directly taking me into the blue clouds, how can I discuss matters on earth?" The words are full of meaning.
Rain is the child of clouds. When clouds are heavy, they say, "Rain is coming." When clouds are thin, they say, "Rain will stop." Whether it comes or stops is not controlled by the clouds, nor is it that they do not know that the clouds and rain are all done by heaven. Therefore, when waiting for rain, they say, "Dusky father and mother do not bring rain." When suffering from rain, they say, "Heavenly father, do not let it rain." Spring rain is as precious as oil, like grease rain. They say, "Good rain comes at the right time, knowing the season." In summer, they avoid rain on the day of Jiazi. "Continuous rain in May leads to drought in June. July and August are enough to eat. If it rains in early August, it will be dry until May of the next year." This is divination. When the ground is about to freeze, they say, "Frosting rain," meaning it can replace snow. The rhyme goes: "It's raining, bubbles are rising. An old man wears a straw hat. It's raining, rustling, children wake up to eat their mother." In the capital, they call milk "zaza," but the locals simply call it "mother." The sound of heaven is pleasant. If hoping for something unexpected, they say, "How can the raindrops not fall on me?" To force someone to follow reluctantly, they say, "Avoid the rain for now, and leave when it clears." This is the most despicable and hateful kind of vagabond.
8 Dew