转载丨以“庆集三多”等匾说古人年龄中的“开一”

Repost: Honoring Age in Ancient China

六悦博物馆匾额文史探源：

以“庆集三多”等匾说古人年龄中的“开一”

Exploring the historical origins of the plaque inscriptions at the Six Arts Museum: Using plaques such as "Qing Ji San Duo" or “Celebrating the Gathering of Three Auspicious Events” to explain the "Kai Yi" or “Opening of the Next Century” age designation used by ancient people.

古人寿命不永，年届半百就可以祝寿，60岁已算长寿，称为六十大寿。七十岁属于古来稀，八十九十称为耄耋，活到一百岁，那真是凤毛麟角，称为“人瑞”。追求长寿，庆贺长寿，自古而然。

黎里古镇六悦博物馆内，有相当多的寿匾，都是赞颂、庆祝尊长高寿的。请看下面这一横匾：

In ancient times, people did not live as long as they do today. They would celebrate a person's birthday when they reached the age of fifty, and at sixty, they were considered to have lived a long life and would celebrate their sixtieth birthday. Seventy was considered rare, while eighty or ninety was considered very old, and living to be one hundred was extremely rare and was called a "blessed person." The pursuit of longevity and celebrating long life has been a tradition since ancient times.

In the Six Arts Museum in the ancient town of Lili, there are many longevity plaques that praise and celebrate the long life of elders. Today we take a look at the following horizontal plaque: "Ji Qing San Duo” or “Celebrating the Gathering of Three Auspicious Events”:

（庆集三多）

(Celebrating the Gathering of Three Auspicious Events)

上款：赐进士出身

钦点状元及第翰林院修撰加三级愚外弟林鸿年为

下款：尊姊萧母林老孺人百岁开一荣寿

光绪九年岁次癸未秋月吉旦立

Top Line Inscription: Bestowed the title of Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest Imperial Examinations)

Appointed the number one scholar, Hanlin Academy editor, promoted three levels, and awarded younger brother Lin Hongnian

Main Inscription: Celebrating the Gathering of Three Auspicious Events

Bottom Line Inscription: Honoring Madam Xiao, the elder sister, and Mrs. Lin, who is over 100 years old, with a longevity celebration

Dated: Autumn of the year of Guimao (1893), which is the ninth year of the reign of Qing Dynasty Emperor Guangxu.

庆集三多，汇集多重喜庆，三多即三祝，典出《庄子外篇·天地篇》：华封的百姓对贤君唐尧有三个美好祝愿，即祝寿、祝富、祝多男子。后人概括为多寿、多福、多男子，称为“华封三祝”。受匾人林老孺人，自身已经高寿、家道殷实、子孙绕膝，因而深得状元郞林鸿年的敬重，题写“庆集三多”为之祝贺。

The inscription "Celebrating the Gathering of Three Auspicious Events," refers to the three good wishes that the people of Huafeng (a legendary place) had for their wise ruler, Emperor Yao, as mentioned in the book "Zhuangzi Wai Pian Tian Di Pian": wishing longevity, wealth, and many sons. Later generations summarized it as "Huafeng San Zhu" or "Three Wishes of Huafeng": longevity, prosperity, and many sons. The person who received the plaque, Mrs. Lin, is already of advanced age, has a wealthy family, and many descendants. Therefore, she is deeply respected by the successful candidate Lin Hongnian, who wrote "Celebrating the Gathering of Three Auspicious Events,” to congratulate her.

此匾出自福建福州，林鸿年（1804—1886）正是福建福州人。清朝做官有避籍制度，换句话说，不得在本省任职。这里旁逸斜出多说几句。林鸿年道光十六年（1836）丙申恩科状元。先授职翰林院修撰，二年后册封琉球国正使，钦加正一品衔。此后历任山东乡试副考官，广东琼州府知府，云南临安府知府，云南按察使，云南布政使，兵部侍郎，都察院右副都御史，云南巡抚等职。可是同治五年（1866），被冠以“畏寇逗留”罪名革职回乡。正值闽浙总督左宗棠在福州设立正谊书院，聘请林鸿年为书院山长。

林鸿年十九年如一日（1866—1885）精心掌教，书院培养出百多位栋梁之才，其中有陈宝琛、林纾、陈衍、吴曾祺等。后任福建巡抚丁日昌以林鸿年“掌教闽中，著有成效”上奏，光绪八年（1882），吏部以“经术湛深，品行峻洁”回复，特赏三品卿衔。这就可以理解了，林鸿年为什么在光绪九年（1883），才敢给人题匾，匾上对自身只题进士出身、钦点状元、翰林院修撰三个荣誉，其他一概略去。

一般说革职官员，回到家乡，只能战战兢兢，安分守纪，否则将会招来灭顶之灾。好在林鸿年十九年的默默付出，得到左宗棠、丁日昌两位重量级人物的肯定，终于获得朝廷特赏的三品卿衔，在垂垂暮年，略微舒了一口气。

This plaque is from Fuzhou, Fujian, and Lin Hongnian (1804-1886) was also from Fuzhou, Fujian. During the Qing Dynasty, there was a system of avoiding official positions in one's home province. In other words, one could not hold an official position in their own province.

Here, let me digress a bit. In the sixteenth year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign (1836), Lin Hongnian became the top scorer in the imperial examinations. He was appointed as a Hanlin scholar two years later and was later appointed as the envoy to the Ryukyu Kingdom, receiving the title of the First Rank. He then held various positions such as deputy examiner in the Shandong provincial examinations, the governor of Qiongzhou Prefecture in Guangdong, the governor of Lin'an Prefecture in Yunnan, the inspector in Yunnan, the governor of Yunnan, the assistant minister of war, the vice censor of the Imperial Censorate, and the governor of Yunnan. However, in the fifth year of the Tongzhi Emperor's reign (1866), he was dismissed and sent back home on the grounds of "fearing the enemy and delaying the campaign". At that time, the Fujian and Zhejiang Governor-General, Zuo Zongtang, established the Zhengyi Academy in Fuzhou and invited Lin Hongnian to be the headmaster of the academy.

Lin Hongnian diligently taught at the Zhengyi Academy for 19 years, from 1866 to 1885. The academy trained more than 100 talented individuals, including Chen Baochen, Lin Shu, Chen Yan, and Wu Zengqi. Later, when he served as the Fujian governor, Ding Richang praised Lin Hongnian's teaching achievements in Minzhong and reported it to the emperor.

In the eighth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign (1882), the Ministry of Personnel replied with the comment that "he has profound knowledge in Confucianism and has a high moral character" and awarded him with the third-rank official title. This explains why in the ninth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign (1883), Lin Hongnian only inscribed on his plaque three honors he had received: top scorer in the imperial examinations, appointment as a Hanlin scholar, and selection as a court compiler. He omitted all other honors.

Generally speaking, when dismissed officials return to their hometowns, they can only be cautious and abide by the rules, otherwise they will face disastrous consequences. Fortunately, after 19 years of silent dedication, Lin Hongnian gained recognition from two heavyweight figures, Zuo Zongtang and Ding Richang, and finally received the third-rank official title awarded by the court. In his twilight years, he was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

回归正题吧。一般读到“林老孺人百岁开一荣寿”一语，大多认为这位林老孺人已经101岁高寿啦。其实只是90岁生日刚过，进入91岁。十年为一秩、一旬，百岁开一，是说开启了第十秩，即第十个十年。好多人对“开”的出典不了解。这个“开”字，用于年纪，首见于唐代白居易《思旧》一诗。据《容斋随笔•十年为一秩》所记：“白公诗云‘已开第七秩，饱食仍安眠。’又云：‘年开第七秩，屈指几多人。’是时年六十二，《元日》诗也。

又一篇云：‘行开第八秩，可谓尽天年。’注曰：‘时俗谓七十以上为开第八秩。’盖以十年为一秩云。”《思旧》一诗五言古体长达32句，作于唐文宗大和八年（834），当时白居易61岁。此诗感叹四位旧交由于服食丹药，“或疾或暴夭，悉不过中年”。白居易认为道教食丹药求神仙，多为药所误，他总结养生宜忌，决定顺天应命，怡然自适，最后说自己“已开第七秩，饱食仍安眠。且进杯中物，其余皆付天。”

Alright, let's get back to the topic. When people read the phrase "Lin Laoruren celebrates his 100th birthday," most people would assume that he has reached the age of 101. In fact, he had just turned 90 and entered his 91st year. In Chinese culture, people count their age in decades, and a decade is called a "chì" (秩). When someone reaches their 100th year, they have reached the "opening" (开) of their second century, which means they have entered their tenth decade (第十秩). Many people do not understand the origin of the word "opening" (开).

The use of "opening" in reference to age can be traced back to a poem by Bai Juyi in the Tang Dynasty called "Remembering the Past." According to "Rongzhai Suibi: A Decade is a Chì," Bai Juyi wrote, "I have opened my seventh decade, and I am satisfied with my food and sleep." He also wrote, "I have opened my seventh decade, and I wonder how many people have lived as long as I have." At that time, I was sixty-two years old, and I wrote the poem "New Year's Day."

In another poem, I wrote, 'Having entered the opening of my eighth decade, I can be said to have lived a full life.' The annotation explains, 'In the custom of the time, entering one's eighth decade meant being seventy years old or older, which is counted as the eighth decade according to the system of counting age in decades.'

The poem "Remembering the Past" is a 32-line, five-character ancient poem written by Bai Juyi in the eighth year of the Dazhong era of Emperor Wen of the Tang Dynasty (834 AD), when he was sixty-one years old. In this poem, Bai laments that four of his old friends have died prematurely due to taking elixirs, saying that they 'either died of illness or died suddenly, none of them lived past middle age.' Bai Juyi believed that those who sought immortality through Daoism and elixirs were often misguided, and he concluded that one should follow the will of heaven, live contentedly, and enjoy life's pleasures, saying that he 'has entered the opening of his seventh decade, and still enjoys good food and peaceful sleep. As for the rest, it is all up to fate.'"

请看下面这两方横匾：

Please take a look at these two horizontal plaques below:

（萱荣燕翼）

(Xu Rong Yan Yi)

上款：特授湖南永州零陵县正堂加五级纪录

五次 嵇 为

榜书：萱荣燕翼

下款：唐母唐孺人八十开一兼华居并庆

光绪二年丙子岁九月廿四日 立

Upper inscription: Specially appointed to add five levels to the record of the main hall of Lingling County, Yongzhou, Hunan.

Inscribed by: Xu Rong Yan Yi

Lower inscription: Celebrating the 81st birthday of Madame Tang and her son Tang, who live together in Hua Ju.

Erected on the 24th day of the ninth month of the Bing Zi year of the reign of Qing Dynasty Emperor Guang Xu, or September 24th, 1886. "Guangxu Er Nian Bing Zi Sui" refers to the year 1886 in the Chinese calendar. The Guangxu Emperor was the ruler of China from 1875 to 1908, and Bing Zi is the name of one of the 60-year cycles in the traditional Chinese calendar.

（阃范同钦）

(Kǔn fàn tóng qīn) which means "approved and endorsed by".

上款：钦命广西提督学院京察一等记名道府

户科给事中随带加一级冯 为

榜书：阃范同钦

下款：艾罗太孺人九旬开四荣寿

光绪丁酉年仲冬上浣八日 立

Upper Inscription: Appointed by imperial order to conduct a first-class inspection of the registered prefectures of the Guangxi Commander-in-Chief Academy. The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Feng, was also granted an additional level.

Endorsed and approved by: Kun Fan Tong Qin

Lower Inscription: Celebrating the 94th birthday of Madame Ai Luo Tai.

Erected on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month in the year of Ding You (December 22nd, 1897). "Guangxu Ding You Year" refers to the year 1897 in the Chinese calendar. The Guangxu Emperor was the ruler of China from 1875 to 1908, and Ding You is the name of one of the 60-year cycles in the traditional Chinese calendar.

上面的“萱荣燕翼”，是湖南永州姓嵇的县令为唐孺人所作，内中的“八十开一”，是说唐孺人70岁已过，开启了第八个十年，向80岁前进，再加华屋落成，一并祝贺。“阃范同钦”中有“九旬开四”，是一位户科给事中祝贺艾罗老太孺人所作，是说第九个十年已经开启四年，因此是84岁。

The upper inscription "Xuan Rong Yan Yi" was written by the county magistrate, surnamed Ji, from Yongzhou, Hunan for Madame Tang. The phrase "80 years old" means that Madame Tang was already over 70 years old and had entered the eighth decade of her life, moving towards her 80s. The inscription also congratulates her on the completion of the Hua Ju building. The phrase "Kun Fan Tong Qin" includes the phrase "94 years old" which was written by a Ministry of Household Affairs official to congratulate Madame Ai Luo, who had entered her 9th decade of life and was already 84 years old.

（雪竹霜松 ）

"Xue Zhu Shuang Song" refers to a type of landscape painting that depicts snow-covered bamboo and frosty pine trees. It is also the name of the plaque hung on the building.

上款：乾隆四十八年春二月吉旦

恭祝宗兄荣应|锡翁之

母黄孺人七十又一节寿

榜书：雪竹霜松

下款：礼部试进士文林郞拣选知县

宗愚弟忠时顿首拜 题

Upper Inscription: "Spring, February, 48th Year of the Qianlong Reign, Auspicious Day. Congratulations to my elder cousin Rongying on the birthday of Madame Huang, who is 71 years old. Yi Weng bestowed this plaque."

Plaque: "Snow-covered bamboo and frosty pine trees."

Lower Inscription: "Selected as Magistrate by the Imperial Examination, Wenshi Lang, younger cousin Zongyu, bows in respect and inscribes this."

下面匾中的“捌旬有贰”，这个“有”与“又”相同，就是82岁。请看下面的横匾：

The phrase "Ba Xun You Er" in the lower plaque means that Madame Ai Luo was 82 years old, and the character "you" here has the same meaning as in the upper plaque, which indicates "further" or "one more". Please see the horizontal plaque below:

（灵萱长茂）

("Lingxuan thrives and prospers.")

上款：大德望荣菴翁曹老先生德配成老孺人捌旬有贰荣寿立

榜书：灵萱长茂

下款：例授文林郞吏部拣选知县己卯科举人彭衙宗弟蕴岩曹琛顿首拜

道光戊子菊月初旬四日之吉

Upper Inscription: "In honor of the birthday of Madame Cao, the virtuous and compatible wife of the respected and esteemed elder Cao from Rongan Hall, who is 82 years old. Congratulations on this auspicious occasion."

Plaque: "Lingxuan thrives and prospers."

Lower Inscription: "Selected as Magistrate by the Imperial Examination, Yi Weng, younger cousin Peng Ya from Yunyan, bows in respect and inscribes this.

Auspicious day, early 10th month of the year of Wuzi in the Daoguang Reign (which is October, 1838).” Daoguang was the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty of China, who ruled from 1820 to 1850.

最近，重庆少林堂瀚匾园的刘光瑞先生给守望庐主发来好几方匾额，下面这方横匾由民国著名将领冯玉祥题写，以“天地长春”四字，为四川一位慷慨捐资的陈老先生的祝寿。

Recently, Mr. Liu Guangrui from the Shaolin Tang Han Plaque Garden in Chongqing sent several plaques to the owner of Shouwang Mansion. The horizontal plaque below was inscribed by the famous military leader Feng Yuxiang during the period of the Republic of China. The four characters "Tian Di Chang Chun" (Heaven and Earth are Everlasting) were used to congratulate Mr. Chen, a generous donor from Sichuan, on his birthday.

（天地长春）

“Tian Di Chang Chun" can be translated as “Heaven and Earth are Everlasting".

上款：国民革命军陆军壹级上将第六战区司令长官国防最

高军事委员会副委员长 冯玉祥 题

榜书：天地长春

下款：陈老先生八秩进一寿庆

中华民国廿伍年岁次丙子春月谷旦

Upper Inscription: Inscribed by General Feng Yuxiang, Commander-in-Chief of the Sixth War Zone of the National Revolutionary Army, Vice Chairman of the National Defense Military Commission.

Plaque: "Tian Di Chang Chun" (Heaven and Earth are Everlasting).

Lower Inscription: Congratulations to Mr. Chen on his 81st birthday.

Written by Gu Dan in the spring of the year Bingzi of the 25th year of the Republic of China (1936).

上面的“进一”，与“又”“有”相通，不同于“开一”。这位陈老先生八秩进一，是已经进入81岁了。

匾额中的又一、有一、加一、进一，同开一不易混淆。最烦人的是“晋一”，不只是现代人判别错误，就是古人也有同“开一”搞混的。请看：

The word "进一" (jin yi) in the inscription means "one more" and is different from "又" (you) and "有" (you), which both mean "also" or "have". "开一" (kai yi) has a different meaning as well. Mr. Chen has turned 81 years old, hence the use of "进一" in the plaque.

The words "又一" (you yi), "有一" (you yi), "加一" (jia yi), and "进一" (jin yi) are not easily confused with "开一" (kai yi). The most confusing word is "晋一" (jin yi), which not only modern people but also ancient people have confused with "开一". Please see:

（太衍同登 六旬晋一）

“太衍同登" (Tai Yan Tong Deng) means "Tai Yan ascended together" and refers to two people who were promoted together.

"六旬晋一" (Liu Xun Jin Yi) means "six decades plus one" and refers to the age of one of the two people who were promoted together.)

上款：诰封朝议大夫即补府学教授现任赣州府会昌县

儒学正堂加三级保举五次陈良栋 为

榜书：太衍同登

下款：太学生马大均先生|德配谢太君老孺人贤中外六旬晋一双寿

顺男振凤|振骝 孙家庆|骝|道等立

同治七年岁在戊辰冬月 谷旦

Upper Inscription: "Chen Liang Dong, who is currently serving as a professor at the prefectural school in Huichang County, Ganzhou Prefecture, and has been recommended five times for promotion to three levels, has been granted the title of Imperial Academy Scholar and promoted to the rank of Da Fu Ji."

Plaque: “Tai Yan ascended together".

Lower Inscription: "Mr. Ma Da Jun, a student of the Imperial Academy, and his virtuous wife, Mrs. Xie Tai Jun, who have both lived to the age of sixty-one, and their sons Zhen Feng, Zhen Liu, and grandson Jia Qing, all stand together.

Written in the winter of the year Wuchen (1878) of the Tongzhi reign, by Gu Dan."

太衍即大衍，《易•繫辞上》：“大衍之数五十。”根据匾文来看，这是祝贺马谢夫妇同登五十大寿的。可是，落款中下的是“六旬晋一双寿”。题匾人将“晋一”混同于“开一”了。明明是这对夫妇过了50岁，错成过了60。这位江西会昌县教谕，相当于现在的县教育局局长，失误了。

"Tai Yan" is the same as "Da Yan". In the "Xici" chapter of the Book of Changes, it says "The number of Da Yan is fifty." Based on the plaque, it was to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Ma Xie on reaching their fiftieth birthday. However, in the lower inscription, it says "they have both lived to the age of sixty-one." The person who wrote the plaque confused "Jin Yi" with "Kai Yi". It is clear that this couple has reached the age of 50, but it was mistakenly written as 60. The education officer of Huichang County in Jiangxi Province, who was equivalent to the current director of the county education bureau, made a mistake.

六悦博物馆三楼还有“德隆杖乡”、“福寿双辉”等横匾。

On the third floor of the Six Arts Museum, there are also horizontal plaques such as "Delong Zhangxiang" and "Double Auspiciousness of Blessing and Longevity".

先看“德隆杖乡”上款：“恭祝 大耆英赖府惠恩尊姑夫|族叔大人六旬晋一寿诞 暨德配刘|李孺人匾 序 予滥竽风溪教员十余载矣 是岁月之黄钟 适赖君惠恩涖校 见其精神强固 步履轻翔 心甚拟之 问春秋 则以二万二千二百六十日对 肃然起敬……”序文长达三百余字，下略。这里的“六旬晋一”，受匾族叔说他已经过了“二万二千二百六十日”，这不正是六十岁稍有余的年纪吗？再看匾上的榜书“德隆杖乡”，古人50杖家，60杖乡，70杖国，80杖朝，“德隆杖乡”正是60岁。

Let's take a look at the inscription on the "Delong Zhangxiang" plaque: "Congratulations to the honorable and benevolent uncle-in-law of the Lai family, who has reached the age of 60, and his virtuous wife Liu Li, on their birthday. As an educator for more than ten years, I have seen the passing of time like a yellow bell, and I am grateful for your kindness in visiting the school and witnessing your strong spirit and light footsteps. When I ask about your age, you have lived for 22,260 days, which is truly admirable..."

The preface is more than 300 words long and is abridged here. The "sixty years old" mentioned here means that the uncle-in-law has lived for "22,260 days," slightly exceeding the age of sixty. Looking at the plaque's title "Delong Zhangxiang," in ancient times, a family with 50 canes was called a "cane family," one with 60 canes was called a "cane village," one with 70 canes was called a "cane country," and one with 80 canes was called a "cane dynasty." "Delong Zhangxiang" is precisely referring to sixty years old.

（德隆杖乡 六十晋一）

(Delong Zhangxiang, sixty years old)

再看“福寿双辉”这一方：

Please take a look at the plaque "Double Auspiciousness of Blessing and Longevity" :

（福寿双辉）

(Double Auspiciousness of Blessing and Longevity)

上款：恭祝

清弼先生七旬晋一暨德配

张老孺人六一寿辰 弧帨交辉

应宜祝嘏 同人等愧无以献 谨撰

四字以资纪念

榜书：福寿双辉

下款：诗林堂同人等敬赠

民国三十六年丁亥仲冬月谷旦

Top Inscription: Congratulations to clear-minded Mr. Qi on his 71st birthday, and his virtuous wife Mrs. Zhang on her 61st birthday. The arch and curtain complement each other, and blessings should be bestowed. We, the same people, are ashamed that we have nothing to offer, and we respectfully compose these four characters as a commemoration.

Plaque Inscription: Double Happiness of Blessing and Longevity.

Bottom Inscription: Presented with respect by the members of the Poetry Forest Hall in the 36th year of the Republic of China (1947), on the winter solstice day of the 11th lunar month.

此匾的“七旬晋一”就是71岁开始。假如是61岁，则同德配六一寿辰年岁相同，祝词不会二者分列，肯定拟成“清弼先生、张老孺人七旬晋一，弧帨交辉。”

The phrase "七旬晋一" on this plaque means the beginning of the 71st year. If it were 61 years old, the birthday of both Mr. Qi and Mrs. Zhang would be the same, and the congratulatory words would not separate the two. It would surely be written as "Mr. Qi and Mrs. Zhang, both at the beginning of their 71st year, complement each other like an arch and curtain."

最后，“七十开一”与“七旬晋一”，二者大有不同，前者是刚刚进入61岁，后者则进入71岁，相差整整十个年头。但凡落款中的“进一”、“又一”、“有一”、“加一”等，年岁的计数都与“晋一”相同。

Finally, "七十开一" and "七旬晋一" are quite different. The former means just entering the age of 61, while the latter means entering the age of 71, with a difference of exactly ten years. Whenever the signature has "进一", "又一", "有一", "加一", etc., the age count is the same as "晋一".

黎里守望庐主

Lili Guardian of the Cottage