谐讔 Humorous Remarks and Riddles
芮良夫之诗云∶“自有肺肠，俾民卒狂。”The poem by Rui Liangfu says: "With their own evil minds and hearts, they make the people finally go mad."
相传为芮良夫的《桑柔》诗里说：“昏君自有歹心肠，逼得百姓要发狂。”
夫心险如山，口壅若川，怨怒之情不一，欢谑之言无方。People's hearts can be as perilous as mountains, while their mouths can be as blocked as rivers. The emotions of resentment and anger are diverse, and the remarks of joy and jest are without fixed forms.
国君的心比高山还险恶，人民群众的嘴却像江河那么难于堵塞；群众怨恨的心情各不相同，他们嘲笑讽刺的话也是各种各样的。
昔华元弃甲，城者发睅目之讴；In the past, Hua Yuan of the State of Song was defeated by the State of Zheng, and the people building the city made a song about his "bulging eyes" to mock him;
从前宋国华元为郑国所败，筑城的人就作“睅其目”的歌来嘲笑他；
臧纥丧师，国人造侏儒之歌；并嗤戏形貌，内怨为俳也。Zang He of the State of Lu was defeated by the State of Zhu, and the people of Lu made a song about "the dwarf, the dwarf" to satirize him. These were all mockeries based on the appearance of the two people, expressing the inner resentment in a joking manner.
鲁国臧纥为邾国所败，鲁国人就作“侏儒侏儒”的歌来讽刺他。这些都是从两人的外貌来嘲讽，是由于内心有了怨恨而通过戏谑的方式表达出来。
又蚕蟹鄙谚，狸首淫哇，苟可箴戒，载于礼典，故知谐辞讔言，亦无弃矣。Moreover, vulgar sayings about silkworms and crabs, as well as lascivious ditties like "The Song of the Fox Head", if they can serve as admonitions, are recorded in the books of rites. Therefore, it can be known that witty remarks and allusive words are not to be discarded either.
此外，如成地的人用“蚕则绩而蟹有匡”的谣谚，来批评不给哥哥穿孝的弟弟；孔子的朋友原壤在母丧中唱出“狸首之斑然”这种不严肃的歌谣。这些例子都是因为有教育别人的作用，所以就记载在《礼记》里面。由此可见，“谐”和“隐”是不应该被忽视的。
谐之言皆也，辞浅会俗，皆悦笑也。The meaning of "谐" (harmonious, humorous) is related to "皆" (all). Such expressions are simple and in line with common customs, and they all bring joy and laughter.
“谐”的意义和“皆”相近，是一种语言浅显，适合于一般人，大家听了会发笑的作品。
昔齐威酣乐，而淳于说甘酒；楚襄宴集，而宋玉赋好色。意在微讽，有足观者。In the past, when Qi Weiwang was indulging in merriment, Chunyu Kun told a story about sweet wine to admonish him. When Chu Xiangwang was feasting with his courtiers, Song Yu composed a poem about lustfulness to subtly remonstrate. Their intentions were to offer veiled admonitions, and these works are quite worthy of attention.
战国时齐威王过度地饮酒作乐，淳于髡就用喝酒的坏处来说服他；楚襄王常常召集宴会，宋玉就写《登徒子好色赋》来讽刺他。这些都是存心婉讽对方，颇有可取之处。
及优旃之讽漆城，优孟之谏葬马，并谲辞饰说，抑止昏暴。As for You Zhan's satirical remarks about painting the city walls and You Meng's admonition against burying the horse extravagantly, they both used cunning and embellished words to restrain the fatuous and tyrannical behaviors of the rulers.
还有秦代优旃谏阻二世在城墙上涂漆，楚国优孟谏阻庄王厚葬他的爱马：这些都是用曲曲折折加以修饰的话，来阻止昏君暴主的倒行逆施。
是以子长编史，列传滑稽，以其辞虽倾回，意归义正也。That is why when Sima Qian compiled the history, he included the "Biographies of the Jesters" in his "Records of the Grand Historian". Although their words were rather devious, their intentions were in line with righteousness.
所以司马迁写《史记》，就编入《滑稽列传》；因为他们的话虽然不太正常，但用意还是很好的。
但本体不雅，其流易弊。However, the nature of such works is not elegant, and their development is prone to drawbacks.
不过这类事情本身不是正面直说，所以其末流很容易出毛病。
于是东方、枚皋，餔糟啜醨，无所匡正，而诋曼媟弄，故其自称“为赋，乃亦俳也，见视如倡”，亦有悔矣。Thus, Dongfang Shuo and Mei Gao, indulging in vulgar and trifling things, failed to offer any corrective advice. Instead, they engaged in slander, vulgarity, and frivolous banter. Therefore, they themselves claimed, "When writing fu (odes), it is also like doing buffoonery. We are regarded as entertainers." They also had some regrets about it.
如汉代东方朔、枚皋等人，不过在朝廷里混饭吃，并不能纠正统治者的错误，仅仅是说些俏皮话，给人开开心而已。所以他们自己也说，“写赋只能嘲弄，结果被当做倡优看待。”可见他们也有点后悔了。
至魏人因俳说以著笑书，薛综凭宴会而发嘲调，虽抃笑衽席，而无益时用矣。By the time of the Wei Dynasty, people compiled books of laughter based on comical remarks. Xue Zong made mocking remarks during banquets. Although these could amuse people at the feasts, they were of no benefit to the current affairs.
后来曹丕搜集谐谈，编成《笑书》。吴国薛综善于在筵席上说笑话，虽能娱乐在座的人，不过对当时政事并无好处。
然而懿文之士，未免枉辔；潘岳丑妇之属，束皙卖饼之类，尤而效之，盖以百数。However, those refined and learned scholars have, unfortunately, gone astray. Works like Pan Yue's "The Ugly Woman" and Shu Xi's "Selling Cakes" have been imitated by many, and there are probably hundreds of such cases.
可是后来的文人，却常常绕道到这种写作中来。如潘岳的《丑妇》、束皙的《卖饼》等等，明知故犯地来学写这种作品的，不下百余人。
魏晋滑稽，盛相驱扇，遂乃应瑒之鼻，方于盗削卵；张华之形，比乎握舂杵。During the Wei and Jin dynasties, comical and witty remarks were in vogue and spread widely. Thus, Ying Yang's nose was compared to a stolen and pared egg; Zhang Hua's appearance was likened to holding a pestle for pounding rice.
到魏晋时期，讲滑稽话的风气很盛行；于是有人嘲笑应玚的鼻子好像被削的蛋，有人嘲笑张华的外貌好像舂槌等。
曾是莠言，有亏德音，岂非溺者之妄笑，胥靡之狂歌欤？Such were vulgar and improper words that detracted from the elegance of speech. Weren't they like the delirious laughter of a drowning man or the wild singing of a convict in chains?
都是些无聊的话，有损于谐辞的意义。这不等于落水的人还在笑，犯罪的人还唱歌吗？
讔者，隐也。遁辞以隐意，谲譬以指事也。"Yin" means "hidden." It uses evasive language to conceal the intended meaning and employs cunning metaphors to refer to things.
“讔”的意义就是隐藏，用隐约的言辞来暗藏某种意义，用曲折的譬喻来暗指某件事物。
昔还社求拯于楚师，喻眢井而称麦麹；In the past, Huanshe sought help from the Chu army by using a metaphor of a dry well and referring to wheat yeast.
从前萧国还无社向楚国大夫求救，用“废井”和“麦鞠”做隐喻；
叔仪乞粮于鲁人，歌珮玉而呼庚癸；Shuyi begged for food from the people of Lu by singing about jade pendants and calling out "Geng" and "Gui" (codes for food and water).
吴国申叔仪向鲁军借粮，用“佩玉”为歌辞，以“庚癸”为呼号；
伍举刺荆王以大鸟，齐客讥薛公以海鱼；Wu Ju remonstrated with the King of Jing by using the metaphor of a big bird; a guest from Qi satirized Lord Xue by referring to a sea fish.
楚国伍举用三年不飞不鸣的“大鸟”做比喻，来讽刺楚庄王；齐国有人讲海同鱼的关系，来讽谏薛公；
庄姬托辞于龙尾，臧文谬书于羊裘。Zhuang Ji conveyed her message through the metaphor of a dragon's tail; Zang Wen wrote something fallacious on a sheepskin coat.
楚国的庄姬用无尾的龙，来启发襄王注意后嗣；鲁国臧文仲假托“羊裘”等话，来暗示准备应付齐国的进攻。
隐语之用，被于纪传。大者兴治济身，其次弼违晓惑。The use of riddles and hidden language was recorded in historical records and biographies. At its best, it could contribute to good governance and self-cultivation; at the very least, it could correct mistakes and dispel confusion.
这些讔语的作用，都记载在史书里面；大的可以振兴政治，并且有助于自身的显达；其次也可纠正某些错误，让迷惑的人明白过来。
盖意生于权谲，而事出于机急，与夫谐辞，可相表里者也。Since the ideas originated from cunning stratagems and the situations arose from urgent needs, they could be regarded as complementary to humorous remarks.
它们的用意虽然产生于权变狡诡，但常常是出于某种机要迫切的事情。讔语和谐辞，是可以相辅相成，互为表里的。
汉世《隐书》，十有八篇，歆、固编文，录之赋末。In the Han dynasty, there were eighteen chapters of the "Book of Riddles." Liu Xin and Ban Gu included it at the end of their compilations of literary works.
汉代的《隐书》有十八篇，刘歆和班固编目录的时候，把它们附在赋的后面。
昔楚庄、齐威，性好隐语。至东方曼倩，尤巧辞述。但谬辞诋戏，无益规补。In the past, King Zhuang of Chu and King Wei of Qi had a fondness for riddles. As for Dongfang Manqian, he was especially skillful in expressing with witty words. However, his fallacious and satirical remarks were of no benefit in terms of offering admonitions and making up for deficiencies.
从前楚庄王和齐威王都喜爱讔语。东方朔在这方面更是擅场；不过他常常用怪话来开玩笑，对于匡正过失毫无补益。
自魏代以来，颇非俳优，而君子嘲隐，化为谜语。谜也者，回互其辞，使昏迷也。Since the Wei Dynasty, there has been much criticism of jesters. And the satirical riddles used by noblemen have transformed into ordinary riddles. A riddle is to twist and turn the words so as to make people confused.
从魏代以后，倡优不为人所喜爱，所以士大夫们就把讔语变为谜语。所谓“谜”，就是用改头换面的辞句来迷糊对方。
或体目文字，或图象品物，纤巧以弄思，浅察以衒辞，义欲婉而正，辞欲隐而显。Some are about the form and appearance of characters, while others depict various objects. They are delicately crafted to show off one's ingenuity, with shallow observations to flaunt the language. The meaning should be euphemistic yet correct, and the words should be implicit yet evident.
有的是离文拆字，有的是刻划事物的形状；常常是用小聪明来卖弄才思，凭肤浅的见解来夸耀文辞。其实在内容方面应婉转而正确，在文辞方面应该含蓄而恰切。
荀卿《蚕赋》，已兆其体。至魏文、陈思，约而密之。Xun Qing's "Ode to Silkworms" had already shown the rudiments of this form. By the time of Emperor Wen of Wei and Cao Zhi, it became more concise and elaborate.
从前荀卿的《赋篇》已开了端，到曹丕、曹植弟兄俩，便写得更为精练而周密；
高贵乡公，博举品物，虽有小巧，用乖远大。Emperor Gaogui of the Wei Kingdom enumerated various objects widely. Although there were some clever touches, they fell short of far-reaching significance.
曹髦广泛地描绘事物，虽然有点小巧，可是并没有大的用处。
观夫古之为隐，理周要务，岂为童稚之戏谑，搏髀而忭笑哉！Looking at the ancient riddles, they covered important matters comprehensively. How could they be just the trifling jokes of children, making people slap their thighs and laugh heartily!
试看古代的讔语，其中的道理都与重要事务有关，哪能像儿童的游戏，只是拍腿称快呢？
然文辞之有谐讔，譬九流之有小说，盖稗官所采，以广视听。However, the existence of humorous remarks and riddles in literary works is like the existence of novels among the Nine Schools of Thought. They were probably collected by petty officials to broaden people's horizons.
文章中的谐辞讔语，就像各种学派中的小说一派。这种作品由低级官吏收集起来，可以使人扩大眼界，多知道些事理；
若效而不已，则髡朔之入室，旃孟之石交乎？If one were to imitate them without restraint, would it be like Chunyu Kun and Dongfang Shuo becoming bosom friends, or You Zhan and You Meng being as close as stones?
如果不断学习这些，就可成为淳于髡等人的高徒、优旃等人的知友了。
赞曰 总结：In conclusion:
古之嘲隐，振危释惫。虽有丝麻，无弃菅蒯。The ancient satirical riddles served to relieve crises and exhaustion. Just as one should not discard the coarse thatch grass even when there are silk and hemp.
古代的谐辞讔语，可以挽救危机，解除困难。即使有了丝和麻，也不应抛弃野草。
会义适时，颇益讽诫。空戏滑稽，德音大坏。When they conform to the meaning and are timely, they are quite beneficial for admonition. But if they are just empty jokes and comicalities, the elegance of speech will be greatly damaged.
谐讔合于大义而又用在恰当的时机，那是很有讽谏作用的。如果仅仅是游戏滑稽，那就是很不好的谐讔了。
