"Xi" Happy Dictionary

Wang Anshi (A.D.1021-1086, a native of Linchuan, Fuzhou, Northern Song Dynasty) was a famous politician, thinker and writer in Northern Song Dynasty. He has been very talented since he was a child. At the age of 23, he went to the city to catch the exam, rested in Majia Town, and went out after dinner. On the lantern hung by Mr. Ma's house, the words "run the lantern, light the horse and go, light the horse and stop" occasionally flashed, apparently waiting for someone to make couplets. Wang Anshi couldn't help clapping his hands and said, "Well done! Good right! " The housekeeper who stood by immediately went in and told Mr. Wang that when he came out, Wang Anshi had disappeared.

The next day, Wang Anshi waved his hand in the examination room and handed in the first paper. Seeing that he was clever, the examiner sent someone for an interview, pointing to the flying tiger flag in front of the hall and saying, "Flying tiger flag, flying tiger flag, hidden tiger flag." Wang Anshi remembered Mr. Ma's first couplet, and casually said, "Run the lantern, run the lantern, stop the lantern." He did it quickly and well, which surprised the examiner.

Wang Anshi returned to Majia Town after the exam, thinking of the help of lanterns, strolled to Mr. Ma's house. The member asked him to pair up, and Wang Anshi wrote in calligraphy: "Flying Tiger Flag, Flag Tiger Flying, Flag Tiger Hiding." The member met just right and neatly, immediately betrothed his daughter to him, chose an auspicious day, and got married in Mafu. It turns out that the pair on the lantern was made by Miss Ma at her husband's choice.

On the wedding day, just as the bride and groom were worshipping heaven and earth, the newspaper reported: "Mr. Wang wants to be the top scholar, please go to the Qionglin banquet tomorrow." Mr. Ma was overjoyed and ordered a new banquet. Wang Anshi was overjoyed. With a little drunk, he wrote a big word "hi" on red paper. Before I finished writing, I wrote another word "Xi" in one go. The two words were closely connected to form a huge word "Xi" and posted it on the door, shouting, "Clever couplets for double happiness, lanterns for flying tigers." Since then, the custom of pasting the word "Xi" has gradually formed.