What is the origin of the word "Xi"?

There are many versions about the origin of the word "Xi", among which the most popular one was created by Wang Anshi, a writer in the Song Dynasty.

According to legend, when Wang Anshi passed Majia Town on his way to Beijing to catch the exam, he met a man in my family who was choosing a son-in-law. A lantern was hung at the door of the member's house, and a couplet was left on the lantern: "The lantern runs, the lamp goes, and the lamp stops." Wang Anshi was amazed at this sentence after reading it, but he couldn't see it because he was in a hurry to catch the exam.

During the examination, the examiner was surprised to see that Wang Anshi's bottom line and the top line on the lantern responded skillfully. He thought Wang Anshi was a great talent, so he was recognized as a talent. After that, Wang Anshi took part in the imperial examination and achieved great success. To celebrate his double happiness, he wrote the word "Xi" on his way home. Since then, the word "Xi" has been widely used and has become an auspicious symbol when getting married.

In addition, there is another saying that the word "Xi" was created by Wang Anshi at a happy event in Suzhou. According to legend, Wang Anshi met a member of my husband's family in Suzhou before the exam. There is a lantern hanging at the door with a couplet on it. Wang Anshi couldn't make the bottom line at that time, but in the exam, the examiner made this question and Wang Anshi made the bottom line. Mr. W's family thought he was completely right, so they betrothed their daughter to him. On their wedding day, it happened that he was going to be the top scholar. Wang Anshi wrote the word "Xi" on red paper.

Either way, it is related to Wang Anshi. Now, the word "Xi" has become an auspicious symbol in the traditional culture of China, which is often used in weddings, celebrations and other festive occasions.