Elder Meng, whose original name is unknown. A native of Kaifeng Prefecture (now Kaifeng City, Henan Province) in the Northern Song Dynasty, he was a writer in the Song Dynasty. He was originally a grass in Kaifeng, and lived in Tokyo (now Kaifeng) for more than 20 years at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty. After the Jin Dynasty destroyed the Northern Song Dynasty, after experiencing the "difficulty of Jingkang", Mr. Meng traveled south and often recalled the prosperity of Tokyo. In the seventeenth year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty, he wrote the Tokyo Chinese Dream in a preface. "Tokyo Dream of China" also left a strong impression in the history of China literature.

At the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, Jin Jun went south in a big way, and Kaifeng was besieged several times. In 1 127, Emperor Hui Zong, Emperor Qinzong, 3,000 imperial concubines, princes and royalty were taken to the north by the Jin Army. The prosperous and brilliant Song Dynasty vanished in an instant, the ancestral temple was destroyed, and the Northern Song Dynasty perished, which is called "the difficulty of Jingkang" in history. After the change of Jingkang, most people in the Central Plains went south with the imperial court. In this context, Mr. Meng left Tokyo (now Kaifeng) and went south to avoid Zhejiang. With the passage of time, I always miss Mr. Meng's hometown. With the pain of national subjugation and homesickness, Mr. Meng began to recall that when he was young, he followed his father's officials to travel north and south, came to Beijing, lived in the south of Jinliang Bridge in the west of the city, and felt the customs of Kaifeng Prefecture in Tokyo. And "Tokyo Dream of China" is the note prose recalled by Mr. Meng.

Dream of Tokyo traces the urban customs of Kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, and mainly records the daily life scenes of Kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, living in Tokyo from the Chongning period in Song Huizong to the Xuanhe period, about1102-1125. This book covers almost everything, from the capital to palace buildings, from government offices to blocks in the city, from eating and drinking to all seasons, from singing and dancing to the customs of weddings and funerals. It can not only deeply understand the folk customs and fashion of that historical era, but also feel the developed economy and prosperous urban life in Song Dynasty. It is an important historical document to study the social life, economy and culture of the Northern Song Dynasty, and it can be said to be a text version of The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival.

In view of the long history and limited historical documents, when we mention the Song Dynasty, most people first think of using "poverty and weakness" to describe the Song Dynasty. Indeed, according to some historical data, the financial and economic deficit in the Song Dynasty, the military was in a mess, and the ruling territory was far less than that in the Han and Tang Dynasties. But this does not fully represent the Song Dynasty, and it can even be said that it is a one-sided mistake in our understanding. The financial deficit in Song Dynasty does not mean economic recession; Military weakness does not mean that the country is weak. In fact, an important reason for the financial pressure in the Song Dynasty was that the way the government mobilized folk materials was no longer to collect them for free, but to buy them. Although the military record is not strong, it has more defense, and it can even be said that its military defense ability is better than that of the Tang Dynasty.

In recent years, western academic circles generally believe that China has become the most populous political entity in the world since the Song Dynasty. From the Song Dynasty to the18th century, China's production and consumption have been actively influencing the business model and trade balance in the Indian Ocean, the Islamic world and even Europe. In the Song Dynasty, China not only made up for the collapsed market system left by the Tang Dynasty, but also formed a new urban-rural market, commodity economy and contractual relationship, no matter in the fields of science and technology, urban economy, agriculture, industry and commerce. During the Song Dynasty, the world's earliest paper money issued by the government-"Jiaozi" was even born. During the period of Song Huizong, the national population even increased to more than 654.38 billion. With the economic development and population growth, the urbanization level of Song Dynasty reached an unprecedented level of feudal dynasty. In addition, the Song Dynasty is also the economic history of China. For the first time, the tax revenue of industry and commerce and urban economy exceeded that of agriculture.

Based on living in such a Song Dynasty, the author constantly recalls the beautiful things in the past of Kaifeng Prefecture in Tokyo. Dream of Tokyo is not only known by the author, but also includes local chronicles and miscellaneous books at that time, which can be said to be a comprehensive historical material. The book "Tokyo Chinese Dream" generally includes the outer city, inner city and river bridge of Beijing, the distribution and location of the government inside and outside the palace, the streets, shops and restaurants in the city, court meetings, suburban sacrificial ceremonies, Han folk customs in Tokyo at that time, seasonal festivals, food, songs and dances and many other chapters.

In the first volume of the book, the author focuses on Kaifeng, the largest and most prosperous capital of the Song Dynasty in the world at that time. In the author's pen, we know that Kaifeng is divided into three walls: palace, inner wall and outer wall. There are three or four gates on each wall, and there are three layers of urns outside each gate. Three walls divide the city into several areas. Miyagi is the imperial city, with a circumference of five miles. There are three gates in the south, only one gate in the east, west and north. There is a crosswalk between the east and west gates, the central government agency in the south and the residence of the emperor in the north. Due to the small scale of Miyagi, Song Huizong has built a new Yanfu Palace in the north of Miyagi, which is an extension and expansion of Miyagi. Licheng, also known as the old city, is the old city of Bianzhou in the Tang Dynasty, with a circumference of 20 miles. There are three doors on all three sides except the two doors in the east. The reconstructed outer city is 50 miles in circumference, 4 feet high and has a magnificent tower. There is a city outside the city called Hulong River, which is three times wider than Bianhe River. There are three gates in the south of the outer city, two gates in the east, four gates in the north, three gates in the west and many water gates.

Kaifeng, Tokyo, where the author lived, was the largest and most prosperous capital in the world at that time. At the same time, it has trained many craftsmen and opened many shops. Starting from the second volume, Mr. Meng introduced Jiang Hang, Sha Hang, Niu Hang, Guo Hang, Yu Hang, Mi Hang, Meat Hang, Nan Hang, Da Hang, Xiao Hang, Cloth Hang, Food Store, Teahouse, Hotel, Inn, Steamed Bread Shop, Noodle Shop, Pancake Shop, Tile Shop and brothel. In addition, the famous restaurants and shops mentioned by the author in the book, such as Baifanlou, Panjialou, Xinle, Yuxian Zhengdian, Zhongshan Zhengdian, Levinzheng, Qingfeng, Changqing, Baxian, Banlou, Zhangbajiayuan Zhaizheng and so on. Mr. Meng's works, whether craftsmen or well-known shops, are actually just the tip of the iceberg on the bustling surface of Kaifeng Prefecture in Tokyo.

Such a magnificent and prosperous capital has benefited the people of Tokyo. Wandering in the shops woven by craftsmen from all walks of life, a grand occasion of "four fields are like the city, often under fragrant trees or gardens, listing cups and plates, persuading them to pay money, and the capital is singing and dancing all over the pavilion." Similarly, in order to enrich people's nightlife, Mr. Meng introduced that more and more businesses began to pursue more commercial interests, which naturally canceled the "night market ban" that had been implemented for a long time under the original square market system, and "night market", "morning market" and "ghost market" gradually appeared in Kaifeng City. When the bustling people were immersed in the "night market", "morning market" and "ghost market" built by the merchants, the night markets of various shops did not disappear until the middle of the night, and reopened at the fifth watch. The citizens' transactions presented the spectacle of "magnificent houses, wide facades, looming prospects, and tens of millions of transactions, which was shocking".

In the book, Mr. Meng not only introduced the bustling capital and lively market to readers, but also showed readers the unknown entertainment activities and holiday meals in the Song Dynasty. The author gives a detailed description of the famous drama venue "Goulan Washe", court teaching workshops, military records, male and female musicians, riders and teams. These descriptions have played an important role in studying the history of China's operas, novels and acrobatics in the future. In addition, from the eighth volume, the author introduced the daily customs and diets of some festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival. This gives readers an immersive feeling.

The short-lived Tokyo Dream China can be said to be a detailed record and elaboration of the social, economic and cultural life of Kaifengfu in Tokyo during the Song Huizong period, leaving a lot of valuable information for future generations to explore the life of residents of all walks of life in that era.

Meng Yuan's Dream of China in Tokyo initiated a new genre of describing urban customs and anecdotes with notes, which, like The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, is of great significance to the study of the history of urban economic development in the Northern Song Dynasty. In Qing Dynasty, when Ji Xiaolan compiled Sikuquanshu, he even included it, saying that it could "evaluate each other" with the related contents of The History of Song Dynasty, which was not beneficial to historiography. Since its publication, Dream of China in Tokyo has been published in various editions, including Yuan edition, Yuan edition, Minghong radical edition and Mingjiajing edition, among which Yuan edition and Minghong radical edition are the most valuable and respected. By chance, I got the brand-new Dream of Tokyo published by Sanqin Publishing House. As a brand-new version of A Dream in Tokyo, it combines the methods of Yuan engraving and Minghong radical, and shows readers the most essence and complete cultural history of the Song Dynasty.

"Tokyo Dream Back to China" is the memory of Lao Mengyuan after he fled the war in the north and fled to the south. The word "China's Dream" in the title of the book can be directly understood as "Only in my dream can I see the prosperity of my old country again". After the baptism of "Jingkang Rebellion" at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, Mr. Meng had to stay away from Kaifeng and Tokyo, where he had lived for many years, and come to a strange south. As Yan Shu, a famous poet in the Northern Song Dynasty, said, "Mountains and rivers are everywhere, and the falling flowers are even more harmful to spring." Although it has been 20 years since prosperity, Meng still recalls the elegance of the past in his dream. With the creative concept of "the old capital is prosperous, but it is always out of reach", Mr. Meng created a 10 volume of Dream of Tokyo, which described in detail the urban layout, court ceremony, citizen life and other aspects of Kaifengfu, Tokyo, and presented the dream situation by jumping between magical symbols, giving the world a feeling of "dreaming back to the Great Song Dynasty".

As a classic of China's note literature, Dream of China in Tokyo is like a prosperous version of the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, which brings people a amorous feelings painting with temperature, and also makes readers experience the cultural characteristics of the Song Dynasty and feel the life attitude of the Song people. I got this Tokyo Dream Record by accident. When I first started reading it, I was frightened by the way that every article in the book was presented alternately in classical Chinese and vernacular Chinese. I doubt my boring cultural accomplishment and find it difficult to understand this heavy book. However, when I calmed down and tried to read slowly, my initial fear and doubt instantly turned into shock and surprise.

It has been nearly a thousand years since the Song Dynasty. Due to the lack of historical documents, most people's impression of the Song Dynasty is still "poor and weak", and so am I. I was shocked when I calmed down, opened the page and just read the preface. As the most prosperous country in the world at that time, the Song Dynasty can even be said to be the period when China's real capitalism began to sprout. Dream of China in Tokyo is the author's guide to "dream back to the Great Song Dynasty" and experience the prosperity of the Song Dynasty again. When the author's statement in the preface unfolds slowly, it seems that the beautiful picture of The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival unfolds slowly, as if he were there. I came to Old Meng Man in Kaifeng, Tokyo, and listened to him talk about his life, residence, capital and customs. . .

This book has ten volumes. With the gradual reading of this book, it is like walking with Mr. Meng in Tokyo and listening to him talk about the vicissitudes of those unknown years. The unique urban pattern effectively integrates the commercial area and the residential area. The "Separation of Fangs and Cities", which was once proud of all previous dynasties, was destroyed or demolished in the Song Dynasty, which also made Tokyo the first city in ancient China to open to the outside world. The change of urban pattern directly affects the opening of commercial shops along the street, and mobile vendors such as streets and bridges are bustling. Standing on the bridge and looking at the ships in the river, it can be said that "there are countless big ships, and I saw three or four heavy ships in two days." The prosperity of business has even turned this isolated Buddhist land into a bustling market.

When I came to the strange and mysterious Song Dynasty, I was very happy to have an excellent guide-Senator Meng. Witnessed the prosperity of the day, at dusk, Mr. Meng took me out of Zhuquemen, came to Longjin Bridge, and then came to the famous night market in Tokyo. Mr. Meng said, "The night market didn't reopen until midnight. If you want to go anywhere, you know everything. Although there is heavy snow and rain in winter, there is also a night market. The prosperity of the night market also confirms the stability and peace of the capital. There are countless foods in the night market, which makes me feel happy on my tongue. During the tasting, Mr. Meng introduced me to the famous restaurants and restaurants in Kaifeng, Tokyo. The capital has gathered the essence of the national diet, including frying, frying, boiling, frying, steaming, boiling, salting and stewing. It can be said that "the smell in Huihuan District was noticed in the kitchen". The famous restaurants in the capital are "seventy-two shops, and the rest are called pedicure shops". There are all kinds of delicious food, which is really a picture of happiness on the tip of the tongue.

After tasting, teacher Meng, the tour guide, took me to feel the nightlife in Kaifeng, Tokyo, and came to a large entertainment and leisure complex-"Wazi". Nearly 100 tiles, plus dozens of tables, let the public enjoy performances such as singing and dancing, zaju, sumo wrestling, puppet show and storytelling. Senator Meng told me, "the criterion for judging a person is not wind, rain, cold or heat, but every day." It can be said that Goulan Wazi is the source of modern literary and artistic activities, and it also marks that art has moved from the palace to the folk. In Wazi, while watching the Goulan performance, Mr. Meng once again introduced me to other entertainment activities in Kaifeng, Tokyo. Mr. Meng introduced that solar terms are a timetable for farming and harvesting for rural people; For Kaifeng people, it is a refined life. In different seasons and festivals, there are different customs, different makeup and different diets, which makes the capital full of enthusiasm and vitality all year round.

Before 1000 years ago, China was the most powerful country in the world. Kaifeng, the capital of Tokyo, with a population of one million, was the most advanced, prosperous and huge city in the world at that time. When I first read Dream Back to China in Tokyo, under the guidance of Mr. Meng, a tour guide, I dreamed of going back to the Great Song Dynasty, but the lonely sail was gone, the blue sky was exhausted, and endless desolation and sadness were left behind the prosperity. At the end of the book, with the last touch of sunset and the last ray of sunshine introduced by Mr. Meng, I woke up from my dream, but in the end it was empty. As Mr. Meng himself introduced in the preface: "The world has been peaceful for a long time, and many people are rich." An old man who looks down on children, fights, and turns his head white doesn't know how to fight. Throughout the year, watch the lights and enjoy the moon, see the snow scene, pray for blessings on Tanabata, and climb the mountain on Chongyang. Looking up, there are brothels, pavilions and beaded curtains. "

"Old men with white heads don't know how to fight", I seem to think that the author is standing on the edge of half the Southern Dynasties, looking into the distance, but it is difficult to hide his sense of loneliness. Under the shadow, I seem to see a glimpse of that era and the vicissitudes of life. In the prosperous times, many people are unwilling to face up to reality until they die. When sitting idle, you will talk about the scenery of the capital. When you talk about it, you will be very happy, your face will become radiant, and your mouth will have a slight smell of fruit. In front of you, you will see the shining lights and snowy scenery. Always obsessed with the long past of that day, the false and empty dream, but unwilling to bear the arrival of reality. These people are talking and laughing, feeling sad, but thinking about how good it would be if their dreams were always immersed in them. As we all know, dreams will eventually wake up, and dreams can only be truly successful if they are put into practice, otherwise they can only become nightmares.

After reading the whole article, I changed from initial fear and doubt to shock and surprise, and finally to desolation and sadness. Between words and symbols, I deeply feel that the author has transformed himself into a silent text endlessly. Every memory is the homesickness of Mr Meng's lonely and tearful homeland, silently listening to the cry from his own heart.

I think about it every day, but I dream at night. However, I will wake up after all. When I am disappointed, I am full of hope for the future and put my dream into practice. The dream is no longer a nightmare, but a magnificent "Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival".

Picture scroll: Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival in Zhang Zeduan.

Books: Qing Ping Le, Song Huizong and History of Song Dynasty.