Pekinese Rhymes

Front matter

PEKINESE RHYMES

CHINESE FOLKLORE

FIRST COLLECTED AND EDITED WITH

Preface

PREFACE

I bring for the first time to light a collection of Pekinese children-rhymes with the conviction that the reader may gather from the lecture these benefits.

1°. The acquirement of a small treasure of words and phrases hardly to be met with elsewhere.

2°. A clearer insight into scenes and details of Chinese common life.

3°. The notion that some true poetry may be found in chinese popular songs.

These rhymes have no known authors; some of them are perhaps composed by mothers watching at children's bedside, others may be composed by naughty school-boys when the teacher is having his nap over a page of the great philosopher. At all events they are like wild flowers which spring up nobody knows how and when and fade and die in the same way.

The trouble in collecting them was far greater than I had thought. "Tabood" as we are in Peking, where could I go myself to hear the rhymes and note them down?

Then I had recourse to my teacher, but as he thinks to be a literary man, he grew quite indignant at my proposal, and assured and pledged that no such rubbish had ever existed in China. However as I happened (of course by chance) to take out of my drawer some dollars, and place them beneath his reach， he suddenly abated his furors and mumbled that "perhaps I was not mistaken and that of course he would by every possible mean try to get what I wanted".

And I shall say to his justice that he kept his word and the dollars. But when he had collected forty or so, his stock was quite exhausted and I had to look for other helps.

In summer time residing in temples in the neighbourhood of Peking I had large chance of intercourse with the people and could increase my stock of rhymes. I was furthermore able to improve the former texts and to reprove all those which being not matched by oral testimony were probably spurious.

After the work of collection, came the work of explanation and translation which was not always easy. The people who spoke the words often were not able to give me light on the difficult points. When pressed by me they suggested something and I picked up what looked more truthlike and reasonable; never did I force or prefer views of my own.

Somebody will object to my statement that sparkles of true poetry are to be found in this book. That will very naturally happen to all those who are entirely foreign to the chinese world. Several rhymes (however few in proportion to the bulk of the book) are simple and touching and may be "poetry" for those who have even a slight knowledge of chinese joys and sorrows.

I shall draw also the reader's attention to the system of versification followed in these rhymes. Composed as they are by illiterate people who have no notion of written language, they show a system of versification analogous to that of in any European countries, and almost completely agreeing with the rules of the Italian poetry. A new national poetry could perhaps spring up based on these rhythms and on the true feelings of the people.

I took every pain to collect the most I could, yet the work could be by far richer than it is. Those who live in freeer intercourse with the people could easily add numerous and fine samples of this uncultivated poetry. I would be extremely pleased if anyone would either furnish to me new materials, or would himself undertake the work of a new collection of rhymes.

Any critic, advise or literary contribution will be gratefully received by the author.

I am glad to be able to express here my deep feelings of gratitude to Mr. A. M. C. Raab of the British Legation, who kindly undertook the revision of almost the whole manuscript and to Mr. Krebs of the German Legation who kindly helped me in correcting the proofs.

Baron Guido Vitale

Italian Legation.

Peking. 30th September 1896.

Index

INDEX.

Chang1 ta4 sao3 | Pag. 23 | 張大嫂

Che4 ko4 jen2 sheng1 lai2 | 192 | 這個人生來性兒急

Cheng1 yüe4 li3 cheng1 yüe4 cheng1 | 195 | 正月裏正月正

Chi4 tsao4 chi4 tsao4 | 170 | 祭竈祭竈新年來到

Chiao1 ni2 pan4'r | 169 | 膠泥瓣兒

Chie1 cho chi'iang2'eur | 165 | 隔着牆兒扔切糕

Chih4 chi1 ling2 | 100 | 雉鷄翎

Chin1 ku1 lu1 pang4 | 34 | 金軲轆棒

Ch'in2 shih3 huang2 | 184 | 秦始皇

Ching1 t'iao2 kun4 'r | 88 | 荆條棍兒

Ch'iung2 t'ai4 t'ai4 'r | 193 | 窮太太兒

Ch'o3 ch'o3 | 35 | 扯扯

Ch'u1 la men2 | 52 | 出了門兒

Ch'u1 la men2 'r hao3 sang4 ch'i4 | 145 | 出了門兒好喪氣

Ch'u1 i1 ch'u1 eur4 ch'u1 san1 ssu4 | 207 | 初一初二初三四兒

Ch'u3 hsi2 fu4 'r ti | 90 | 娶媳婦兒的

Chui1 pang1 tzu3 'r | 189 | 錐幫子兒

Fan1 ping3 lao4 ping3 | 78 | 翻餅烙餅

Feng1 lai2 la | 103 | 風來咯

Han2 ya1 'r han2 ya2 'r kuo4 | 21 | 寒鴉兒寒鴉兒過

Hao2 jo4 t'ien1 'r | 116 | 好熱天兒

Hao1 tzu teng1 | 133 | 蒿子燈

Hei1 lao3 p'ouo2 'r | 125 | 黑老婆兒

Ho2 shang4 ho2 shang4 iao2 ling2 tang4 | 67 | 和尚和尚搖鈴鐺

Hou4 ti3 'r hsie2 | 80 | 厚底兒鞋

Hu1 hu1 | 95 | 糊糊

Hua1 hung2 liou3 lu4 hsien4 'r | 64 | 花紅柳綠線兒

Huai2 shu4 huai2 | 31 | 槐樹槐

Huang2 kou3 huang2 kou3 | 17 | 黃狗黃狗你看家

Huang2 ch'eng2 ken1 'r | 128 | 黃城根兒

Huang2 tou4 li4 'r | 175 | 黃豆粒兒

Hung2 to2 li | 201 | 紅得哩

hung2 hu2 lu2 | 84 | 紅葫蘆

Hsi3 ch'iao3 i3 pa1 ch'ang2 | 92 | 喜雀尾巴長

Hsi3 'r hsi3 'r ch'ih1 tou4 fu3 | 138 | 喜兒喜兒吃豆腐

Hsi3 'r hsi3 'r mai3 tou4 fu3 | 139 | 喜兒喜兒買豆腐

Hsi1 hsi1 chiao1 | 185 | 蹊蹊蹺

Hsi3 hua4 ch'ia1 lai2 tai4 man3 t'ou2 | 188 | 喜花掐來戴滿頭

Hsi3 'r hsi3 'r | 198 | 喜兒喜兒

Hsiang1 hsiang1 hao1 tzu | 46 | 香香蒿子

Hsiang1 lu2 'r | 105 | 香爐兒

Hsiao3 t'u1 'r | 10 | 小禿兒

Hsiao3 pai2 ts'ai4 | 22 | 小白菜兒

Hsiao3 eur4 ko1 | 32 | 小二哥

Hsiao3 u3 'r | 42 | 小五兒

Hsiao3 hsiao3 tzu | 44 | 小小子

Hsiao3 hui2 hui2 'r | 68 | 小回囘兒

Hsiao3 t'u1 'r | 93 | 小禿兒

Hsiao3 niu1 'r | 106 | 小妞兒

Hsiao3 chiao3 'r niang2 | 107 | 小腳儿娘

Hsiao3 hsiao3 tzu | 113 | 小小子兒

Hsiao3 hsiao3 tzu | 127 | 小小子兒

Hsiao3 ch'in2 chiao1 | 131 | 小秦椒兒

Hsiao3 san1 'r t'a1 ma1 | 134 | 小三兒他媽

Hsiao3 hao4 tzu | 135 | 小耗子兒

Hsiao3 ta4 chie3 | 142 | 小大姐

Hsiao3 yüan2 'r | 149 | 小元兒

Hsiao3 san1 'r, hsiao3 san1 'r | 164 | 小三兒小三兒

Hsiao3 t'ao2 ch'i4 | 179 | 小陶氣兒

Hsiao3 ta4 chie3 | 187 | 小大姐

Hsiao3 hsiao3 tzu k'ai1 p'u4 'r | 196 | 小小子開鋪兒

Hsiao3 ku1 niang2 tsuo4 i1 meng4 | 196 | 小姑娘作一夢

Hsiao3 p'ang4 hsiao3 tzu | 204 | 小胖小子兒

Hsiao3 p'ang4 ko1 | 219 | 小胖哥

Hsin1 ta3 i1 pa3 ch'a2 hu2 | 65 | 新打一把茶壺

Hsin1 ku1 niang2 shih2 chi3 la | 143 | 新姑娘十幾咯

I1 chin4 men2 hsi3 ch'ung1 ch'ung1 | 66 | 一進門兒喜冲冲

I1 ya1 eur4 ya1 | 69 | 一呀二呀

I1 fu4 k'uang1 | 77 | 一副筐

I1 chin4 men2 'r hei1 ku1 lung1 tung2 | 147 | 一進門兒黑咕窿咚

I1 ko4 chien1 'r | 176 | 一個毽兒

Jih4 t'ou2 ch'u1 lai2 i1 tien3 hung2 | 25 | 日頭出來一點紅

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 you3 i1 chia1 | 45 | 高高山上有一家

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 i1 tsuo4 hsiao3 miao4 | 64 | 高高山上一座小廟

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 i1 luo4 chuan1 | 79 | 高高山上一落磚

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 i1 k'o1 hao1 | 104 | 高高山上一顆蒿

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 i1 tsuo4 lou2 | 108 | 高高山上一座樓

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 i1 k'o1 ma2 | 116 | 高高山上一顆蔴

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 iou3 ko4 hsiao3 miao4 | 119 | 高高山上有個小廟

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 i1 tsuo4 lou2 | 148 | 高高山上一座樓

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 i1 uo1 chu1 | 190 | 高高山上一窩猪

Kao1 kao1 shan1 shang4 i1 ko4 niu2 | 205 | 高高山上一個牛

Ken1 'r ken1 'r | 152 | 哏儿哏儿

Ku4 pu4 to2 i1 shih2 shuei4 chao2 | 139 | 顧不得一時睡着

Ku3 k'ao4 cho2 ku3 lai2 | 199 | 鼓靠着鼓來

Ku1 tung1 tung1 | 217 | 轂洞洞

La1 ta4 chü4 | 1 | 拉大鋸

La1 la1 ku3 ti1 ch'o1 san1 ko1 ko1 | 162 | 拉拉穀的車三哥哥

Lan2 tien4 ch'ang3 | 101 | 藍靛廠

Lao3 t'ai4 t'ai4 chiao4 mao1 | 130 | 老太太呌貓

Li4 la ch'iu1 lai2 li4 la ch'iu1 | 40 | 立了秋來了秋

Li4 li4 li4 li4 chan4 'r | 123 | 立立立立站兒

Liang3 chih1 la4 | 135 | 兩枝蠟

Ling2 lung2 t'a3 | 98 | 玲瓏塔

Luo2 kuo1 tzu ch'iao2 | 55 | 羅鍋子橋

Luo4 t'o2 luo4 t'o2 so4 so4 | 110 | 駱駝駱駝噻噻

Luo2 kuo1 'r ch'iao2 | 124 | 羅鍋兒橋

Ma2 tzu3 ma2 | 12 | 痲子痲

Ma2 tzu3 kuei3 | 187 | 痲子鬼

Mai3 i1 pao1 | 206 | 買一包

Mei2 mu4 'r | 97 | 煤糢兒

Men2 'r ch'iao1 ti pang1 pang1 | 178 | 門兒敲的梆梆

Miao4 li3 ti ho2 shang4 la1 ta4 suo3 | 166 | 廟裏的和尚拉大鎖

Maio4 men2 tuei4 miao4 men2 'r | 191 | 廟門對廟門兒

Mie1 mie1 yang2 | 62 | 哶哶羊

Muo4 li4 hua1 'r ti chang4 fu1 | 153 | 茉莉花兒的丈夫

Nan2 ching1 ta4 liou3 shu4 | 216 | 南京大柳樹

Ni2 ni2 ni2 ni2 puo1 puo1 | 47 | 泥泥泥泥餑餑

Ni3 ma1 ch'i1 | 111 | 你媽七

Ni3 iao4 sha2 ni3 iao4 sha2 | 208 | 你要奢你要奢

Niao1 niao1 niao1 | 192 | 鳥鳥鳥

Nien2 nien2 iou3 ko4 san1 yüe4 san1 | 215 | 年年有個三月三

Niu1 'r iao4 ch'ih1 mien4 | 49 | 妞兒要吃麪

Pa1 hsien1 chuo1 'r | 137 | 八仙槕兒

Pai2 t'a3 ssu4 | 186 | 白塔寺

Pien11 p'ao4 i1 hsiang3 pa4 chang1 k'ai2 | 209 | 鞭炮一响把張開

P'ing2 tso2 men2 la1 ta4 kung1 | 155 | 平則門拉大弓

San1 'r san1 'r | 60 | 三兒三兒

Sung1 chih1 'r shu4 | 173 | 松枝兒樹

Sung1 pai3 chih1 'r | 176 | 松柏枝兒

Sha1 t'u3 ti4 'r | 9 | 沙土地兒

Shang4 ku1 lu4 t'ai2 | 2 | 上軲轆台

Shih2 liou4 hua4 'r ti chie3 | 28 | 石榴花兒的姐

Shih4 shui2 p'ai1 uo3 ti men2 'r | 194 | 是誰拍我的門兒

Shou4 hsing1 lao3 'r fu2 lu4 hsing1 | 219 | 壽星老兒福祿星

Shu4 ye4 'r ch'ing1 | 38 | 樹葉兒靑

Shu4 ye4 'r hei1 | 78 | 樹葉兒黑

Shui2 ken1 uo3 uan2 'r | 14 | 誰跟我頑兒

Shuei3 niu2 'r shuei3 niu2 'r | 48 | 水牛兒水牛兒

Shuo1 k'ai1 ch'uan2 chiou4 k'ai1 ch'uan2 | 161 | 說開船就開船

Ta1 lien2 'r ta1 | 53 | 褡連兒撘

Ta1 lien2 'r ta1 | 59 | 褡連兒撘

Ta3 hua1 pa1 chang3 | 72 | 打花巴掌

Ta3 luo2 'r shai1 | 76 | 大羅兒篩

Ta3 luo2 'r shai1 | 180 | 大羅兒篩

Ta4 t'u1 tzu3 to2 ping4 | 36 | 大禿子得病

Ta4 niang2 twu3 ho1 chiou3 | 57 | 大娘子喝酒

Ta4 fan1 ch'o1 | 63 | 大翻車

Ta4 ko1 ko1 eur4 ko1 ko1 | 194 | 大哥哥二哥哥

Ta4 niang2 eur4 niang2 ts'ai1 | 202 | 大娘二娘猜

T'ao2 shu4 ye4 'r chien1 | 112 | 桃樹葉兒尖

Ti1 ti1 ti1 | 171 | 滴滴滴

T'i4 teng4 kun4 'r | 27 | 剔燈棍兒

T'iao1 shuei3 ti ko1 | 7 | 挑水的哥

T'ien1 huang2 huang2 | 211 | 天皇皇

T'ie3 ts'an2 tou4 | 89 | 鐵蠶豆

Tou4 ya2 ts'ai4 | 183 | 豆芽菜

T'ou2 pien1 hui1 | 213 | 頭遍灰

T'u1 tzu3 t'u1 | 58 | 禿子禿

T'u1 t'u1 ch'a3 | 96 | 禿禿鍤

Tu3 li2 'r shu4 | 83 | 杜棃兒樹

Tung1 yü4 miao4 | 56 | 東嶽廟

Tung1 tung1 tung1 | 146 | 咚咚咚

Tsao4 uang2 ye2 | 212 | 竈王爺

Tzu3 pu4 tzu3 | 159 | 紫不紫

Uo3 i1 ko4 ta4 eur2 tzu | 15 | 我一個大兒子

Uo3 eur2 tzu shuei4 chiao4 la | 16 | 我兒子睡覺了

Uo3 ti1 eur2 uo3 ti1 chiao1 | 182 | 我的兒我的姣

Ya1 t'ou2 ya1 | 97 | 丫頭丫

Yang2 shu4 ye4 'r | 6 | 楊樹葉兒

Yang2 pa1 pa1 tan4 'r | 118 | 羊巴巴蛋兒

Yang3 huo2 chu1 ch'ih1 k'ou3 jou4 | 197 | 養活猪吃口肉

Ye2 ye2 pao4 sun1 tzu | 106 | 爺爺抱孫子

Yen4 pien1 hu2 | 129 | 簷蝙蝠

You3 ko4 niu1 'r pu4 hai4 sao4 | 121 | 有個妞兒不害羞

You3 ko4 hsiao3 t'u1 'r | 122 | 有個小禿兒本姓高

You3 pien1 'r you3 pien1 'r | 144 | 有邊兒有邊兒

Yüe4 liang4 ye2 | 150 | 月亮爺

Yüe4 liang4 ye2 | 172 | 月亮爺

Yüe4 liang4 ye2 | 190 | 月亮爺

1

PEKINESE BABY-SONGS

I

NOTES

Singing these words, the mother or any elder of the family takes the baby by the hands and pushes him for and backwards as if it was really the matter of drawing a saw. 姥姥家 lao3 lao3 chia1, the family of the mother's mother. 娶娘子 ch'ü3 niang2-tzŭ, goes to fetch the bride for her son, niang2-tzŭ is the name for a wife, and here it is used instead of 新姑娘 hsin1-ku1-niang2, the real term for a bride. 撘大棚 ta1-ta4-p'eng2, they raise a large matshed. The Chinese houses have not generally large rooms, therefore in marriage, death, anniversary, and other occasions in which many guests are to be invited, an additional matshed is raised in the court-yard. 大戲 tā-hsī, a play performed in the matshed by hired actors, an amusement much liked by the Chinese, but which only rich people can afford to have in their houses. 接姑娘請女婿 chie1 ku1-niang2 ch'ing3 nü3-hsü4, the grandmother with her family invites on this marriage occasion her married daughters and their husbands. 外甥 uai4-sheng1, is the name by which a sister's son is designed.

TRANSLATION

(People) draw the saw―pull the saw—saw the wood―build rooms—the grandmother and her family go to fetch the bride―a large mat-shed is raised―in which a play is performed―and they come to take home the married daughters―and to invite their husbands―small nephew―do you want also to go?

2

II

NOTES

軲轆台 ku1 lu1 t'ai2, a rounded stone placed Some times outside the outerdoors to sit on. 麻愣 ma2-leng4 is the dragon fly (libellula virgo); it ought to be correctly written 螞螂 and pronounced ma1-lang2, I have however preferred the more popular and incorrect form as the sounds and the tones of the characters correspond to the Pekinese pronunciation, and the correct form is popularly unknown. 含 着 hen2-cho, holding something in the mouth without showing it. The correct pronunciation of the character 含 is han2, as it is also pronounced in vulgar phrases as for instance 暗含着 an4 han2 cho, hiddenly, without showing, said sometimes of a meaning hidden in words which pretend not to say anything. 褲腿 k'u4 t'uei3, cloth-bands wrapped around the ankles of ladies with small feet. 轎車 chiao4 ch'o1， sort of cart longer than the ordinary one, used only by the upper mandarin classes. 悄人家 ch'iao4 jen2 chia1, a beautiful woman. 灰鼠 huei1-shu3, the grey squirrel. 皮澳 p'i2-ao3, chinese overcoat lined with fur. 銀鼠 yin2-shu3, the white squirrel. 對子 tuei4-tzu, a pair; the numeral ― one is wanting. 荷包 ho2-pao1， a small side-pouch in which the chinese keep banknotes, or even betel-nuts. 小針兒 hsiao3-chen1-eur, a small needle used by women to work flowers on a cloth. This working different from the embroidery is called 扎 cha1. 轄 hsia1, the character ought to be pronounced in the second tone, but here is pronounced in the first because it is only used to represent the Manchu word hiya meaning a body-guard of the sovereign; this word is very often used in Peking instead of the Chinese equivalent 侍衞 shih4-wei4. 阿煞 a4-sha1， two

characters which represent the Manchu word asha meaning one's elder brother's wife, and is used in the same complimentary way and in the same meaning as the chinese 嫂子 sao3-tzŭ. 達子餑餑 ta2-tzŭ puo1- puo1， tartar-cakes many of which keep yet their old Manchu names, and are largely used in Peking. 奶茶 nai3-ch'a2, "milk-tea". 安南檳榔 an1-nan2-ping1-lang2， Annamite betel-nuts. 夾四瓣兒 chia1-ssu4-pan4'r， which are cut in four pieces. 硌 ko4 character not mentioned in any dictionary ； it means to stick in the teeth, and also to hinder, to hurt. 厭物兒 yen4 u4'r， despising term for a person who disgusts people; it could be translated "you worrying thing!" 包牙 pao1 ya2, it is said of the front teeth when they protrude under the upper lip.

TRANSLATION

Goes up the sitting-stone ― comes down from the sitting stone (!). The old lady Chang comes to pour tea ― the tea is fragrant ― the wine is fragrant ― ten camels are loaden with clothes ― they are unable to move on ― and they call the dragon-fly ― the dragon fly-with the mouth full of water ― spurts the young lady's figured ankle-bands ― young lady, young lady do not get cross ― to-morrow or after to-morrow the cart shall arrive ― what cart? ― a chair-cart with red wheels, drawn by a white horse ― and inside there sits a beautiful woman ― who wears an over coat lined with grey squirrel

fur and a jacket lined with ermine fur ― and has with her a pair of side-pouches with flowers worked on it by the small needle ― then, comes from the south direction an Imperial body-guard of the second class ― who leaning to the cart-door asks his sister-in-law ― sister-in-law, sister-in law, where do you go? ― "I am going towards South to pay a visit to my family" ― "When you have already paid a visit to your family, come to my house. ― I have at home ready-cooked old rice ― tartar cakes and tea milk ― but the Annamite betel-nuts cut in four pieces ― shall break the protruding old front teeth of you worrying thing!"

3

III

裼樹葉兒 曄拉拉 小孩兒睡覺找他媽 乖乖寳貝兒你睡罷 螞虎子來了我打他

NOTES

楊樹 yang2 shu4, the poplar (latin populus) this tree is in China very commonly seen in burial grounds. The Chinese say that its leaves stir even without wind, and that the noise produced by their stirring, moves to sadness. 嘩拉拉 hua1 la1 la1, pronounced as one word, is imitative of the noise. This sad introduction is supposed to scare the boy and to get him sooner asleep. 乖乖 kuai1-kuai1, means to kiss as chinese mothers kiss their children in somewat a different way than the Europeans. The same expression is used too to say: be quiet! dont be saucy!―probably the two meanings melt in one, as the second may simply be a promise of a kiss if the boy will be quiet. Another common form for the last meaning is adverbially formed so, 乖乖兒的 kuai1 kuai1'r ti. 螞虎子 ma1 hu3 tzŭ, a phantastic monstruos creature spoken of and called every time it is thought proper to scare a baby.

TRANSLATION

The poplar leaves ― are stirring ― the baby is about to sleep and looks for his mother ― be a good boy, my treasure, get asleep ― if the bogie comes, I'll beat him.

4

IV

NOTES

These words are adressed by the chinese boys to the water-carriers who are generally people of the Shantung province. As no water-ways of any kind exist in Peking, a great many of these fellows take the water from the wells into the houses. Their bad pronunciation, and their awkward manners delight extremely the Peking cockneys. The boys have therefore composed for their benefit this special song, which they hum at their back, and whose general aim is to define them as turtles. The word turtle in China is used for one of the most direst insults, as this animal is phantastically empeached of an unnatural crime. The insult is however so largely used that people are not shocked by it. 哥 ko1 means elder brother, but here is used in the meaning of man, fellow in the same way as the Russians use the word brat (latin frater) . 窩 uo1 means not only a nest but also a den, a hole. 晒蓋子 shai4 kai4-tzŭ, to dry the shell in the run, as turtles do. 縮 suo1, to withdraw one's head, to retreat. This last phrase is allusive to the fact that the water-carriers do not go out when it rains, as the turles do too.

TRANSLATION

Water carrying fellow ― hear what I say ― on the bank of the south river ― is your hole ― when the weather is fine, you dry out your shell ― and when it is bad weather then you draw in your neck.

5

V

沙土地兒 跑白馬 一跑跑到丈人家 大舅兒望裏讓 小舅兒望裏拉 隔着竹簾兒看見他 銀盤大臉黑頭髮 月白緞子棉襖銀疙疸

NOTES

沙土地兒 sha1 t'u3 ti4'r, a sandy plain ground as outside the wall between the Manchu and the Chinese town in Peking. 丈人 chang4-jen, name given to one's wife or bride's father. 大舅兒 ta4-chiou4'r, one's wife's elder brother. 小舅兒 hsiao'3 chiou4'r, one's wife's younger brother. For 他 is here to be understood the bride whom the young man succeeds in spying through the curtain. 銀盤大 臉 yin2 p'an2 ta4 lien3, a big face as white as a silver tray. 月白 yüe4 pai2, "moon white" means a light blue. 疙疸 read ko1-ta1 or more vulgarly ka1-ta1, here means a metal button, it may also mean pimples and has other different shades of meanings.

TRANSLATION

On the sandy plain ― gallops a white horse ― galloping gets to the (horseman's) future father-in-law's house ― his elder brother-in-law invites him to come in ― his younger brother-in-law pulls him in ― through the bamboo-curtain he has seen her ― her large face as white as a silver-tray and her black hair ― and her cotton overcoat of light azure colour with silver buttons.

6

VI

小禿兒 咧咧咧 南邊兒打水是你爹 你爹戴着紅纓帽 你媽穿着乍板兒鞋 走一步 蹋拉拉 十個脚指頭露着三

NOTES

The Chinese boys generally as far as three years old have their hair shaven; therefore a common nickname for a boy is 禿兒 t'u1'r, meaning a bald-headed. 咧咧咧 lie4-lie4-lie4, is imitative of the sound of weeping. The boy weeps and to quiet him the song is sung to him. 打水 ta3 shuei3, to draw water from a well, by a rope and a bucket. 紅纓子 hung2 ing1 tzŭ, Red silk twists fixed round the top of a chinese official hat. 乍板兒鞋 cha4 pan3'r hsie2, old shoes with no heels; they are so called because the noise the sole produces slapping on the ground is like the sound of a Chinese musical instrument called 乍板兒 cha4 pan3'r, consisting in two small bamboo tablets strung together, which are shaken by the fingers in a similar manner to the spanish and italian castanets 踢拉拉 t'a1 la1 la1, imitates the slapping of the shoe sole on the ground. 三 san1 is here (as very often in vulgar language) pronounced sa1, in order to rhyme with the precedent verse who ends with 拉.

TRANSLATION

Small bald-headed ― here he is weeping! ― to the South side it's your father who draws water from the well ― your father wears an official hat with red silk twists on it ― and your mother wears on her feet old shoes with no heels ― as she advances a step ― it sounds t'alalà — and of her ten toes three peep out of her shoes.

7

VII

痲子痲 上樹爬 狗又咬 人又拿 嚇的痲子摔了個痲跟頭 痲大錢 買了個痲燒餅 痲子吃 痲子看 痲子打架痲子勸 痲衙役 拿板子 單打痲子的痲腿子

NOTES

This song is profusedly interspersed with the character 痲 ma2 whose meaning is "smallpox." This disease is so common in China that very often children who have been sick with it and keep marks on their faces are familiarly called 麻子 ma2-tzŭ. Furthermore the word is used in other relative meanings. Here throughout these words, it is impossible to translate it always, as the repetition is done for the sake of playing on the word. The character I have written here is the regular one, but popularly the other character 麻 ma2, which means hemp, is substituted for it. In the first verse it is repeated to intensify the original meaning, thus saying "much marked with small pox." 痲跟頭 ma2 ken1 t'ou2, ken1-t'ou2 is a tumble; the word 痲 ma2 is referred to the subject. 痲大錢 ma2 ta4 ch'ien2, so is called a cash when its surface is sugged, uneven, as if there were marks of small pox on it. 痲燒餅 痲2 shao1 ping3, a wheaten cake with an uneven surface, as it is when sesamum seeds are placed on it. 燒餅 shao1 ping3, round wheaten cake.

TRANSLATION

The boy much marked with the small pox ― climbs up a tree ― the dog barks ― and people go to catch him. ― The small-pox marked is so scared that he tumbles. ― With an old rugged cash he buys a cake ― a small pox marked eats ― and a small pox marked looks on ― the small pox marked come to a fight ― and a small-pox marked advises peace ― small pox marked policemen 一 take the bamboo stick 一 and only thrash the legs of the small pox marked boy.

8

VIII

誰跟我頑兒 大火鐮兒 火鐮兒燒 賣甜瓜 甜瓜苦 買豆腐 豆腐爛 茶雞蛋 雞蛋雞蛋殼殼 裏頭坐着哥哥 哥哥出來買菜 裏頭坐着奶奶 奶奶出來燒香 燒了鼻子眼睛

NOTES

火鐮兒 huo3 lien2'r, a piece of steel used to strike sparks from a flint. 甜瓜 t'ien2 kua1, sweet melon. 豆腐 tou4-fu3, bean cheese, largely used in China 茶雞蛋 ch'a2 chi1 tan4, eggs boiled in tea. 雞蛋殼兒 chi1 tan4 k'o1'r the shell of an egg; it is generally pronounced k'o2'r

TRANSLATION

Who is going to play with me? ― strike the flint-steel ― the flint steel takes fire ― sell sweet melons ― the sweet melons are bitter ― sell bean cheese ― the bean cheese is spoiled ― boil eggs in tea ― in the shell of the egg, of the egg ― there is sitting the elder brother ― the elder brother goes out to buy provisions ― inside there sits the grand-mother ― the grand mother goes out to burn incense ― and burns her nose and her eyes.

9

IX

我一個大兒子 一個兒子 寶貝疙疸兒 開胸順氣丸

NOTES

These words are often repeated by the pekinese mothers to their babies 疙疸兒 ko1 ta1 'r means here a little thing of a round form just as it was a round metal button. 開胸順氣丸 k'ai1 hsiung1 shun4 ch'i4 uan2, is a medical pill advised by Chinese doctors to people who feel the breast oppressed and the respiration uneasy. The literal translation of its name is "pill which opens (lightens) the breast and makes the respiration easy. The mothers liken their babies to that pill, and really every mother holding her child in her arms must feel happy and free from every sorrow.

TRANSLATION.

This one great son of mine! ― one son of mine! a precious little thing! ― a pill who lightens the heart and makes people happy!

10

X

我兒子睡覺了 我花兒困覺了 我花兒把卜了 我花兒是個乖兒子 我花兒是個哄人精

NOTES

These words are repeated by mothers near the cradles of their sons to get them asleep. The phrase 把卜了 pa4 pu3 la, is rather difficult to explain, because the Chinese themselves cannot give it a meaning. However, after many enquiries I see that people are generally of opinion that this phrase has the meaning of being drowsy, being asleep. 乖兒子 kuai1 eur2 tzŭ, an obedient boy, meaning derived from the above mentioned phrase 乖乖 kuai1 kuai1, "be quiet!" 哄人的精 hung3 jen2 ti ching1, the word hung3 which means commonly to deceive, but its original meaning is to cajole, to flatter, to charm. The word ching1 means essence, semen; the whole phrase could be translated: the essence, the flower of those who charm people.

TRANSLATION

My flower is sleeping ― my flower has fallen asleep ― my flower is resting ― my flower is a quiet son ― my flower is the flower of those who charm people.

11

XI

NOTES

This song although very childish, yet is founded on the fact that chinese mothers-in-law are often unkind and sometimes even cruel to their daughters-in-law. 雙雙人兒 shuang1 shuang1 jen2'r, means a couple of persons, not four persons. 我家媳婦兒 uo3 chia1 hsi2 fu4'r, "the wife in my house" probably these words are meant to be

uttered by the mother in law, who may call so her son's daughter. 擀麪 kan3 mien4, to stretch out dough to make vermicelli. 擀麪杖 kan3 mien4 chang4, a roller to stretch dough. 一大片 i1 ta4 p'ien4, a large flat piece (of dough); in the text the verb "she stretches out" is wanting. 赛如線 sai4 ju4 hsien4, which may rival, compete with thread as to thinness. 團團轉 t'uan2 t'uan2 chuan4, conglomerated they turn round in the pan. (said of the vermicelli) 蓮花瓣 lien2-hua1-pan4, (as they were) petals of the lotus blossom. 公 kung1 father-in-law, here kung1 is instead of 公公 kung1 kung1. 婆 p'uo2, mother in law, here p'uo2 is instead of 婆婆 p'uo2 p'uo2. 小姑兒 hsiao3 ku1'r, her husband's younger sisters. 案板 an4 pan3, a wood board on which dough is stretched to make vermicelli. 爐坑 lu2 k'eng1 is a pit under the stove where the ashes fall down; an imcommon severe punishment inflicted by mothers-in-law to their daughters-in-law is to let them sleep in the stove-pit. 鋪甚麽 p'u1 she2 mmo, what have you for bedding? 枕甚麽 chen3 she2 mmo, what have you for pillow? Somebody is supposed to ask now from the unfortunate wife about her condition. 棒鍾 pang4 ch'ui2, a beater used in washing clothes; it is generally made of 棗木 tsao3 mu4, date wood. 一落磚 i1 luo4 chuan1, a pile of bricks, that is to say, as many bricks as could form a pile of them. 一溜鞭 i1 liou4 pien1, "a row of whips" rather a strange expression for many whips, lots of whips. ―溜姻 i1 liou4 yen1, as a stream of smoke; the verse is not complete because its whole meaning is: they beat the wife so that she runs away as quickly as a stream of smoke (a cloud of smoke). The Chinese associate the idea of smoke with quickness; very often it is heard 他走一溜姻兒似的 t'a1 tsou3 i1 liou4 yen1'r shih4-ti, he walks as quickly as a stream of smoke.