The Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Fuzhou is a comprehensive cultural venue built to commemorate Tang Xianzu, one of the world’s hundred great cultural figures and a master of Ming‑dynasty drama in China. It is also one of Jiangxi Province’s ten major memorial halls dedicated to historical luminaries.
Tang Xianzu’s Story | Showing His Talent by Guessing Characters While Seeking Shelter from the Rain
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2023-11-04
Guess the character to avoid the rain and show your talent.
Tang Xianzu was gifted from a young age and well-known throughout the surrounding ten‑li radius. Yet in those days, transportation was poor and travel was arduous; once the journey grew long, people seldom ventured out. Consequently, even among those who had seen Tang Xianzu, few could be counted, and as a youth wandering through the countryside, he attracted still less attention.
Legend has it that one spring day, the young Tang Xianzu set out for a village far from home. The weather was bright and clear, with the sun shining high in the sky. On his way back after visiting friends, he was caught by a sudden spring rain. Just then, he happened to pass by the grand estate of a certain village and had no choice but to take shelter beneath its eaves. Seeing someone hurrying under the roof, the host quickly stepped outside. By now, the youth had already stopped beneath the eaves. Upon seeing him—a handsome, well‑featured lad who looked like a schoolboy deep in his studies—the host felt a spark of fondness. He approached Tang Xianzu and said, “I shall pose you a four‑line poetic riddle; if you can solve it, you may spend the night at my house and depart tomorrow.”
Tang Xianzu replied with gracious politeness, “Please pose your riddle.”
The master recited a poetic riddle, pausing after each word:
The Yellow Crane Tower was built by Lu Ban, and the lingzhi grass was stolen by someone.
Riding dragons and taming tigers, each goes his own way; the Eight Immortals drift over the seas, each at peace.
Having finished reciting it, the host smiled warmly at Tang Xianzu, thinking to himself that this riddle was quite a challenge—let’s see whether he could solve it or not, and whether he possessed any real talent. A hint of smugness even showed in his eyes.
Tang Xianzu paused for a moment, then replied with a touch of disdain: “This is the easiest character to write, invented by Cangjie.”
The master could hardly believe that Tang Xianzu could guess, thinking to himself that this young man was rather audacious. He pressed on, asking, “Oh? Then tell me—what character is it?”
Tang Xianzu smiled without answering, merely gesturing with his hand in reply. Seeing that Tang Xianzu solved the riddle as effortlessly as melting snow in a blazing furnace, the host heaped praise on his talent. He had posed the puzzle to many learned scholars, yet few could decipher it—little did he expect that the young Tang Xianzu would crack it with such ease. So he asked the boy his surname and given name, and where he lived. With composure and grace, Tang Xianzu introduced himself, revealing both his name and address. Upon hearing this, the host was taken aback: it was none other than the widely renowned prodigy, Tang Xianzu! Moved by his brilliance, the host warmly entertained him for several days, and at parting even presented him with a generous gift.
Do you know what character this poetic riddle refers to?
It turns out the answer is the character “one.”
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