History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 15 Disaster Relief Association

Wei Yao reacted quickly and asked him, "Since we're from the same sect, shouldn't you have gone back to check if I've been captured?"

"Yes!" Wei Zhen and the other two looked at Qu Rong.

Qu Rong quickly came up with a quick explanation: "Of course I went back to check, but the garrison had already withdrawn by then, and I didn't know that everyone who came to see the flowers had been arrested, so I must have thought you had gone home."

Wei Yao retorted, "That doesn't make sense. If you thought I went home and wasn't implicated, why are you now fabricating that I'm someone who slipped through the net?"

"What fabrication? It was just a joke! If you're really serious, you can say I slipped through the net."

Wei Yao stopped replying to him, because arguing with a sophist is pointless and only lowers one's own character.

The teacher started the lesson before 5:30 AM today, which gave the students a very bad feeling. Perhaps in the future, lessons will start earlier and school will end later.

The knowledge presented was more difficult to understand than yesterday's. The first section of "Ding Zhi Fang Zhong" involved the "Zhou Zheng" calendar, as well as the observation of celestial phenomena and the selection of solar terms when building palaces.

The second section details the process of Duke Wen of Wei's observation and divination, describing the observation method as progressing from "ascending" to "looking out," then "observing the mountain," and finally "descending to observe." Although the description of divination is only eight characters long, the nine aspects of divination described in the commentary leave the students even more confused after hearing the explanation.

The third section is full of exquisite lines! With phrases like "spiritual rain," "starry words," and "bearing a deep mind," the Master's explanations gradually became more powerful and resonant. In particular, the seemingly abrupt ending with "three thousand females" actually summarizes the merits of the entire poem.

The second class didn't end until after 1 p.m. The disciples were so hungry that their stomachs were growling, but they dared not voice their grievances. Master Duan then gave them another blow, letting them choose: from now on, either the morning classes would be extended, or there would be extra classes in the afternoon.

The students unanimously chose the former, a rare occurrence.

After leaving the schoolhouse, Wei Mao caught up with Wei Yao. "I heard from Wu Ji that you and Qu Rong had a fight?"

"Qu Rong provoked me first. He talked nonsense, and after I questioned him, he said that I was deliberately trying to pick a fight with him."

"I'll help you get revenge?"

"No need, I'm not angry at all." She refused with a smile to show that she really didn't care about it.

Looking at Qu Rong who had just walked out of the courtyard gate, Wei Yao said meaningfully, "Fellow disciples may not necessarily walk the same path in the future. If I fight with him to the point of bloodshed every time, he will lead me astray. In the end, I will either become like him or lose my original pursuit... Oh dear!"

She had barely finished speaking when Wei Mao tripped her, almost knocking her over. He then complained, "Isn't listening to Master Duan's lectures enough? I have to listen to your lectures after school too."

"Do I have to make you hear this?" she huffed, trying to get past him, but no matter how she tried to move, he blocked her way completely, as if he had an extra pair of eyes on the back of his head. "Wei Mao!"

"Hmm?" He turned around, cracking his whip. For some reason, every time he saw her angry, his heart felt like it was being gently scratched, giving him a strange sense of satisfaction that she treated him differently.

"If you block my way again, I won't let you copy my notes."

Wei Mao was even happier, but unfortunately, he had a naturally fierce face, and his smile looked like he was about to do something wicked. He finally walked normally and asked, "You went to the bookstore to look for me on the third day of the Lunar New Year?"

"Yes. Go read the book, and I'll give you the notes while I'm at it."

"To get to the bookstore, you have to pass by Bingfang."

Wei Yao slumped her shoulders and sighed, a reaction of resignation she had practiced at home beforehand.

A strange unspoken understanding lingered between the two, and neither spoke until they left the academy. Wei Mao beckoned his servant forward, and only after mounting his horse did he ask, "The Imperial Uncle Temple is holding a disaster relief gathering starting tomorrow. I'm inviting a lot of fellow disciples. Are you going?"

"go."

Every city, despite its dazzling prosperity, has its share of unmet needs, and Pingcheng is no exception.

From the reign of Emperor Mingyuan onwards, this large city began to experience severe food shortages due to a surge in population and consecutive years of frost disasters. After the capital was renamed Luoyang, although the population of Pingcheng decreased, the amount of grain transported from the six garrisons also decreased. Fortunately, the government, major clans, and temples maintained their old customs, distributing grain and cloth to the poor during certain festivals. Disaster relief ceremonies were the most common type of almsgiving ceremony held by temples.

On the afternoon of the sixth day, Wei Mao and his friends set off from the school on foot, full of high spirits, heading towards Sangqu Street north of the Imperial Uncle Temple. When they were just one intersection away, the street was already bustling with activity, and people who had come by car could not move forward and could only park on both sides of the road.

After entering Sangqu Street, the crowd became even more bustling, especially where there were monks, where the crowds were so dense that they blocked the way. Fortunately, the garrison soldiers maintained order and separated those who were donating to merit, those who were having their fortunes told, and those who were receiving relief.

In this crowded situation, Wei Yao and the others decided to split up to play. She was the most delicate, so she was paired with Wei Mao; Wei Zhen was paired with the steady Wei Puti; Wei Jian was paired with Wei Jiezhi; and the two mischievous kids, Wu Ji and Wei Jing, disappeared before Wei Mao could finish assigning roles.

After the group dispersed, Wei Yao and Wei Mao went to the place where lanterns were distributed. Every year before the Lantern Festival, in order to promote Chinese characters and encourage children to read, the prefectural government combined relief efforts with the distribution of lanterns. Schoolchildren would write poems, blessings, or riddles on the lanterns, which were then distributed to the people.

If it's well-written, it might even be displayed.

The lantern stalls were very large, all with the same style and a dazzling array of patterns.

The design Wei Yao received was a pepper tree leaning against a granary. The aroma of pepper can ward off evil spirits and also symbolizes abundant offspring. The granary represents plentiful food and a bountiful harvest.

The design Wei Mao received was a leopard carrying a jujube branch. The leopard symbolizes wealth and nobility, while the jujube is an important offering for festivals. The combination of the leopard and the jujube is a homophone for "early spring brings good news," adding to the auspiciousness.

The two carried lanterns to the writing area, where there were already about a dozen young students. Wei Yao and Wei Mao both carried their own pens and didn't need to wait in line for the pens and ink provided by the prefectural government.

Wei Yao gently lifted the lantern and wrote: "In a bountiful year, the granaries are full, and pepper is fragrant."

Both of these lines are from the "Zhou Song" chapter of the Book of Songs, meaning that in a year of abundant harvest, the granaries are full and there is fragrant pepper wine to offer as sacrifices to the ancestors.

The people responsible for collecting the lanterns were all university students from the state's academy. Seeing that the auspicious words and patterns she wrote complemented each other, they couldn't help but praise her. Then they hung the lantern in a prominent position so that other children could learn the uncommon blessing.

Wei Mao also finished writing, which read "Joyful and endless," and it was placed in a pile of "Joyful and endless" characters. There was another large pile with even more characters, all of which read "No disasters in comings and goings."

The two treated writing auspicious phrases as a game, enjoying themselves whether or not they were praised. Wei Yao pointed northeast and asked, "Going that way?"

The street north of the middle section of Sangqu Street is called Lixue Street, which leads directly to the Imperial Academy. If any Imperial Academy students participate in the Disaster Relief Association, they will definitely gather there.

Wei Mao: "I'll listen to you."

Private oxcarts carrying grain were arriving in droves from outside the city, causing congestion. These wealthy families had come from afar to Pingcheng, and after their charitable act, they would visit various temples to listen to the monks and nuns preach.

As Wei Yao and her companion walked, a quarrel broke out behind them. She turned around and saw that it seemed to be happening at the place where the lanterns were written.

Wei Mao was used to it: "There are always people causing trouble at the annual disaster relief meetings... Be careful!"

A group of beggars set their sights on a grain cart. They rudely pushed past the people in line and frantically grabbed the grain. Wei Yao was walking on the inside of the road and was almost hit.

Three thousand mares: "騋" refers to horses over seven feet tall. "牝" refers to females, specifically mares.

Emperor Mingyuan: Tuoba Si, the second emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty, posthumously honored as Mingyuan, temple name Taizong.

The Six Garrisons: To prevent invasions by the Rouran, the Northern Wei Dynasty established six military garrisons (Woye, Huaishuo, Wuchuan, Rouhuai, Huaihuang, and Fuming) north of Pingcheng, collectively known as the Six Garrisons. Their status began to decline after the Northern Wei moved its capital to Luoyang.

Sangqu Street. "Qu" originally means a road leading in all directions. This street name is something I randomly chose; any resemblance to actual events is purely coincidental.

Ｏ廪 (lǐn): 廪 refers to a granary, and 高廪 refers to a tall granary.

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(End of this chapter)