《古谣谚》卷七

曹操引諺

三國志魏書崔琰傳

生女耳。

Having women’s ears for listening to flatterers, referring to how unpredictable one’s superior’s reaction is to flatterers.

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冀州人稱邢顒語

三國志魏書邢顒傳

德行堂堂﹑邢子昂。

Xing Zi Ang is very righteous

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軍中為典韋語

三國志魏書典韋傳

帳下壯士有典君。提一雙戟八十斤。

There is such a soldier named Dian Wei who carries an unusually heavy weapon.

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陳思王植引諺

三國志魏書陳思王植傳

相門有相。將門有將。

Ministers come from a household of ministers, and generals come from a household of generals.

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王昶引諺

三國志魏書王昶傳

救寒莫如重裘。止謗莫如自修。

Heavy coats save people from chills, and self-cultivation saves one from the slander of others.

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襄陽鄉里為馬良諺

三國志蜀書馬良傳

馬氏五常。白眉最良。

Of the five Ma brothers, the one with the white eyebrow is the most outstanding.

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譙周引諺

三國志蜀書譙周傳

射幸數跌。不如審發。

To prevent arrows from missing the targets, one should caution to aim well when shooting the arrow. The key to winning a battle is to not burden the general population with military expenses.

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吳中童謠

三國志吳書吳主權傳

三國志吳書吳主權傳

黃金車。班蘭耳。闓昌門。出天子。

A children’s song referring to the enthronement of the Wu emperor.

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時人為周瑜謠

三國志吳書周瑜傳

曲有誤。周郎顧。

When the musical tune is going wrong, Zhou Yu will notice right away.

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諸葛恪引里語

三國志吳書孫權傳

明鏡所以照形。古事所以知今。

Just as mirrors reflect the shapes of things, ancient histories provide windows to knowing current affairs.

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陸凱引童謠

三國志吳書陸凱傳

寧飲建業水。不食武昌魚。寧還建業死。不止武昌居。

A children’s song explaining that choosing Wu Chang as the capital will be a bad choice, while choosing Jian Ye will be a good choice.

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吳人為諸葛恪謠

三國志吳書諸葛恪傳

諸葛恪。何若若。蘆葦單衣篾鉤落。於何相求成子閣。

A folk song referring to the way Zhu Ge Ke was buried. He was thrown off a cliff.

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優人青頭雞唱

三國志魏書齊王芳紀

青頭雞。青頭雞。

"Green-headed chicken" refers to ducks. This was the verse of a song sung by one emperor’s entertainer. The emperor was on the verge of losing his throne.

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京師為鄧颺語

三國志魏書曹爽傳注云

以官易富﹑鄧元茂。

Eng Yang sells government posts for money and gets rich.

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魏時為蔣濟謠言

三國志魏書夏侯玄傳注云

欲求牙門﹑當得千匹。百人督﹑五百匹。

A rumor referring to the material costs of obtaining certain positions.

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焦先羖歌

三國志魏書管甯傳注云

祝衄祝衄。非魚非肉。更相追逐。本心為當殺牂羊。

更殺其羖邪。

A hermit’s opaque string of words which were interpreted as the mistakes made by the Wei kingdom’s military strategy.

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時人為楊阿若號

三國志魏書閻溫傳注云

東市相斫﹑楊阿若。西市相斫﹑楊阿若。

Yang A Ruo goes around fighting with people as a means of revenge and mediation.

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魚豢引諺

三國志魏書任城陳蕭王傳評注云

貧不學儉。卑不學恭。