Why are officials allowed to set fires and people not allowed to light lamps?

In the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a satrap named Tiandeng, who was narrow-minded and domineering. Because his name is "Deng", people in the state are not allowed to say anything with the same sound as "Deng". Speaking of his taboos, there are still some origins. ...

Putian Village, a village surrounded by mountains and waters, is thousands of miles away in Fiona Fang. Mountains, ponds, fields, fields, lush trees, clear water and fertile fields. Most of these places are owned by Tian Million, a rich man in the village. Although this old landlord, Tian Million, is rich, he has no son around him. So, he spent a lot of money to invite Feng Shui and experts to divine. At the age of 40, I finally had a son and regarded him as the apple of my eye. The fortune teller said, "When you have a son in your later years, you will be promoted and rich, and gold and silver will roll in." Therefore, he became an official for his son as soon as possible and named him "Tiandeng".

Tian Deng, born prematurely, has a big head, two small mouse eyes, raised head, blurred eyebrows, ugly eyes, short and fat. Since childhood, he has a stubborn personality and a rich family. He always bullies children, and children often make fun of him with "stools". He couldn't stand this anger, so he said to his father Tian Million, "They all make fun of me with stools. When I grow up to be an official, I must let everyone stop saying this word. "

After Tian Deng became an official, he ordered the people in the state not to say the word with the same sound as "Deng", but to use one word instead-rush in the garden is called happy grass, lampstands, lampshades and lanterns are called lighting, shading and road lighting, and the satrap must drive when he goes out to board the bus, even saying "climbing the peak" that touts the satrap. ...

Anyone who violates his taboo will be accused of "insulting the local governor" and even getting a board.

Heavy sentence.

One day, the prefect Tian Deng was sitting in the hall, and a servant was taken to court by the chief executive. The servant plopped down on his knees and cried out for mercy, "What a mistake! Lord satrap, I didn't do anything today! As soon as it was dawn, I turned off the light in front of the hall. I don't know what crime I have committed. I was kicked by the official and almost kicked off the stool. " Hearing this, the prefect Tian Deng was furious and ordered people to tie the servants with bouquets. He roared, "You dare to violate my taboo without knowing that you are guilty. If you pull it down, you will get 50 boards. " ...

From then on, no one in your family dared to call him "incognito" ...

The annual Lantern Festival is coming. According to the previous custom, the state will celebrate the lantern festival in three days, and the state government chief will post a notice to let the people come to watch the lantern festival on time.

This time, the little official who posted the notice was embarrassed. Using the word "light" will violate the taboo of the satrap, but the meaning of not using the word "light" is incomprehensible. The small official who wrote the notice thought for a long time and had a brainwave to change the word "light" to "fire". In this way, the notice was written as "the state set fire for three days according to law."

After the notice was posted, the people were very alarmed, especially some guests from other places. What's more, the two monks were puzzled. He really thought the government would set fire to the city for three days! Everyone packed their bags and scrambled to leave this troublesome place. The local people are already very dissatisfied with Tiandeng's usual rudeness. This time, after reading the notice posted by the government, they were even more angry.

As a result, the allusion of "only state officials can set fires, and people are not allowed to light lamps" has been passed down to this day. ...

Attachment: State officials set fire.

Lu you

Tian Deng is a county magistrate. He keeps his name secret. Anyone who touches him will be angry, and many officials and soldiers are condemned by the list. Therefore, this state is called "fire". In the Yuan Dynasty, people were allowed to visit our state. The official then announced the city's book list, saying that "the state government set fire to it for three days according to law."