Why was it called "turtle removal" in ancient times?

In the poem "Selected Works, Xie Lingyun, First Going to Counties": "Respect the wishes of the ancients and promote Chai Jing's return. Tie the string with Yuanxing and untie the turtle in Jingping. " Shan Li again. Note: "untie the turtle and go to the official." This poem was written by Xie Lingyun, a writer in the Southern Song Dynasty, when he left home after serving as the prefect of Yongjia for one year. Described his happy mood after his resignation. The removal of turtles in the poem refers to the dismissal of officials, but why is it called "removal of turtles"?

It is said that in ancient times, Yi Long walked out of the Yellow River with a picture on his back and dedicated the river map to Fuxi, so Fuxi drew "Eight Diagrams". During the flood control in Yu Xia, a turtle came out of Luoshui with a book on his back and gave it to Dayu, so Dayu made Hong Fan. Nine areas. Therefore, the turtle is a mysterious totem in ancient legends. In the Book of Rites. The chapter "Li Yun" records: "What are the four spirits? Forest, phoenix, turtle and dragon are collectively called the four spirits. " Kong Ying Da. Shu: "All four animals have gods, which are different from other things, so they are called spirits." Therefore, the ancients called dragons, phoenixes, unicorns and turtles "four spirits". The dragon is the king of scales, the phoenix is the king of birds, the forest is the king of beasts, and the turtle is the king of intermediaries. The ancients not only listed the turtle as one of the four spirits, but also regarded it as a symbol of good luck, wealth and longevity.

Turtle divination prevailed in Shang and Zhou dynasties, and diviners drilled and burned tortoise shells, causing cracks, and then predicted good or bad luck. Legend has it that the tortoise has a long life and can remember the past. The teacher of the future has mysterious texture on his back, so it is used for divination. Oracle Bone Inscriptions preserved on tortoise shells or animal bones is what we now call Oracle Bone Inscriptions.

In the Han dynasty, turtles were regarded as a symbol of authority and glory, as well as auspicious and festive signs. At that time, a turtle pattern was cast on the tripod symbolizing the throne, which was called the "turtle tripod", meaning that the throne and the turtle shared the same life, such as historical records. "Biography of Turtle" uploaded: "Turtle is the treasure of the world, and turtle (the famous turtle) is the son of heaven first." Another emperor had a "turtle room" in his ancestral hall, which contained turtles and was regarded as a treasure. Such as historical records. Turtle policy biography: "There is a turtle room in the high temple today, which is thought to be the treasure in the treasure." In addition, in the laws and regulations of the Han Dynasty, the buttons above the official seals of civil and military officials were carved into turtle shapes, which were called "turtle buttons" and were symbols of bureaucrats. For example, Wei Hong in the Han Dynasty's "Supplement to the Old Instruments of Han Officials" volume: "Liehou Gold Seal Turtle Button, and Wen Yue Seal; Both the Prime Minister and the General use gold-printed tortoise buttons and Zhang Yue. " Therefore, the turtle button was later used as an official seal. Zhang began to ponder again. Note: "untie the turtle means untie the turtle print you are wearing." Therefore, dismissing officials is also called "removing turtles."

In the Tang Dynasty, turtles were still revered. In the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court gave officials with more than five products a fish-shaped Jeff made of wood carving or cast copper, which was called a "fish charm", and the bag in which the fish charm was placed was called a "fish bag". Another "Xuanwu" is the god of the north in ancient mythology. Because the north belongs to water, it is also called water god, and its shape is a combination of tortoise and snake. For example, Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Volume 22, Biography of Wang Liangchuan: "Xuanwu, the name of the water god." Prince Zhang Huai's Note: "Xuanwu, the God of the North, the tortoise and the snake are one." Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty changed "fish symbol" and "fish bag" to "turtle symbol" and "turtle bag" because her surname was the same as Xuanwu Wu.

Officials above the third class in the Tang Dynasty all wore gold-inlaid turtle bags, which were called scarabs. Therefore, the husband who later served as a high official was called the "rich husband", such as Li Shangyin's poem "For You" in the Tang Dynasty: "Marry a rich husband for no reason, and live up to the early years of Xiangshan." Other officials with more than five grades gave turtle-shaped stone seats under their tombstones after their death, which was called "turtle-shaped". Such as Wang Sanpin's Textual Research on Ancient and Modern Events in Ming Dynasty. Funeral. Inscription: "Tang burial order, more than five products, cut turtles."