In the traditional Chinese culture, except “four”, which is homophonic with with “death”, even numbers are generally considered auspicious. In our daily life, an even numbers of dishes will be prepared to entertain guests or celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. Also, gifts should be presented in pairs. Marriage or house building should be conducted on an even-numbered day. Even the character happiness posted for marriage is in pairs, too.
Speaking of the character double happiness, it is necessary to mention the double-happiness story of Wang Anshi (1021-1086) in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Legend has it that Wang, a famous thinker, reformer, poet and prime minister, went to the capital to sit the imperial examinations for a post as a minister in the court. On his way, while passing by a town, he saw the door of a big house was surrounded by a group of people pointing and discussing. Wang found that the house was soliciting a couplet to select son-in-law. It was said that this rich family had a daughter who was intelligent and beautiful, but nobody could win her hand, so her parents tried to couplet test to find a suitable candidate.
Wang Anshi saw the “lead half” of a couplet on one of the pair of carousel lanterns reading: “Walking horse lantern, horse lantern walking, lantern extinguished, horse stopped.” Apparently, no one had come up with the “tail half” of this couplet, as the other carousel lantern was still blank. Wang appreciated the ingenious idea of the phrase, but, as he was hurrying to the capital he went on without seriously thinking about it.
In the examination, he performed very well and handed in the examination paper in a short time and was highly appreciated by the examiner. To further understand his talent, the examiner pointed to the flying tiger flag hung in front of the examination room saying: “Flying tiger flag, flag tiger flying, flag rolling tiger hides itself,” and asked Wang to match the couplet. When the young man looked up and found that it was the flying flag that made the tiger flying and the tiger hid in the flag when the flag rolled, he was suddenly inspired and answered without hesitation: “Walking horse lantern, horse lantern walking, lantern extinguished, horse stopped.” As soon as he stopped, there came a burst of applause, the examiner and the candidates present highly praised his couplet as being clever and harmonious.
Wang Anshi then rushed back to the big house without a halt. Fortunately, the carousal lantern was still blank, so Wang Anshi wrote:
“Flying tiger flag, flag tiger flying, flag rolling tiger hides itself.” The girl rejoiced at this answer, and consented to the marriage.
Coincidently, on the wedding ceremony, the herald came to report that Wang Anshi had passed the imperial examination as the number one scholar. This was another good news, double happiness. The bridegroom was so ecstatic and wrote one more “happiness” next to the original one, and chanted a poem: “Coincidental couplets contribute to the Double Happiness song, horse lantern and flying tiger knot Siluo. Getting married and passing the highest imperial examination as the number one scholar, small Dengke and big Dengke coming together.” “Knot Siluo” refers to getting married. “Dengke” refers to passing the highest imperial examination, and “small Dengke” refers getting married, too. In the marriage, the bridegroom would drape a band of red silk over his shoulders and decorate it with colored silk festoons, ride a tall horse and strut in the street, as if he had successfully passed the highest imperial examination, so getting married is also known as small Dengke.
From then on, it has been a social custom. Both northern and southern Chinese will post the “Double Happiness” character for wedding. It has become a good luck symbol for people to pray for happiness, and “Good things come in pairs” has become the most common blessing.
