若作和羹 尔惟盐梅

《调羹图页》

清·周怡

A drawing of mixing soup

Created by Zhou Yi of the Qing Dynasty

鉴赏 Appreciation

画中一女子，持勺调羹，鬓发高捻，小鼻樱口，眉垂目笑，神态娴静。着交领襦裙，蓝带轻垂，态度温婉。案上设三足鼎、盖碗、细瓶与杯，群味俱全，手法灵巧，和羹鼎鼐。

In the painting, a lady skillfully mixes a soup with a spoon, her hair neatly tied up, her features delicate and her expression gentle. She wears a crossed-collar gown with a blue ribbon gracefully trailing, her demeanor soft and demure. On the table are a tripod, a lidded bowl, a slender vase, and cups, all ingredients at the ready, her technique adept in harmonizing the flavors in the pot.

《警世通言》以调羹喻夫妻和谐，彼此含蓄相容，如同新婚妇人入厨，洗手作羹汤，预示日常生涯之始。北人好羹，南人爱汤，各执一端，皆见其长。自宋以降，食羹之风盛行，有宋人丁谓比调羹于辅国之臣。

"The Tales to Caution the World" uses the mixing of soup as a metaphor for marital harmony, embodying mutual inclusion and compatibility, akin to a newlywed woman entering the kitchen, washing her hands to prepare soup, signifying the commencement of daily life together. Northerners prefer soup, southerners favor broth, each excelling in their way, embodying diversity. Since the Song Dynasty, the custom of consuming soup has prevailed, with Song dynasty scholar Ding Wei likening the mixing of soup to a minister's role in governing a state.

典故 Allusion

《尚书·说命》原文

The Book of Documents" original text

王曰：“来!汝说。台小子旧学于甘盘，既乃遁于荒野，入宅于河，自河徂亳，暨厥终罔显。尔惟训于朕志，若作酒醴，尔惟曲蘖;若作和羹，尔惟盐梅。尔交修予，罔予弃;予惟克迈乃训。”

King said: "Come here, Fu Yue! I once learned from the wise minister Gan Pan, but soon after, I retreated to the wild outskirts, settling in the river isles of the Yellow River, and then moved to Bo, undergoing several relocations, which led to no significant progress in my virtues or studies. You should teach me, so that I may aim high. If I were to make sweet wine, you would be the yeast; if I were to make soup, you would be the salt and plums. You should cultivate me in many ways, instruct me, and not disdain me. I will surely follow your teachings."

此章显殷商高宗武丁，虚心求教贤相傅说，盼其尽心辅佐之诚。武丁之言，藏双重深意：一则，盐与梅，烹饪珍馐之不可或缺者也;一则，言贤良为国之本，治国犹如调和五味，需德才兼备之士，慎之又慎，权衡诸般，得其平衡。

傅说，殷商之末年至中兴，其智勇兼备，助武丁安国定邦，创“武丁中兴”之盛世。留言曰：“知之非艰，行之惟艰”，后世崇之为“圣人”。

此言此事，皆映古人之深思熟虑，及其对德与才、智与行之不易，有如烹饪之需谨慎调和，治国亦然。傅说之智，武丁之求，历历在目，譬如清流过溪，绵延不绝，启迪后世，垂范万代。

This chapter vividly illustrates High King Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty seeking instruction humbly from the wise minister Fu Yue, hoping for his wholehearted assistance. Wu Ding's words carry a dual meaning: firstly, salt and plums, indispensable for the preparation of exquisite dishes; secondly, positing virtuous and capable individuals as the foundation of a nation, akin to blending the five flavors in cooking, requiring prudent and well-rounded individuals to delicately balance and manage various aspects to achieve harmony.

Fu Yue, at the twilight and revival of the Shang Dynasty, endowed with both wisdom and bravery, assisted Wu Ding in stabilizing and governing the nation, heralding the "Revival under Wu Ding." He left the saying, "Knowledge is not hard; what's hard is to act," revered by later generations as a "Sage."

These words and deeds reflect the ancient people's deep contemplation and their recognition of the challenges in virtue and ability, wisdom and action, similar to the careful blending required in cooking, as is governance. The wisdom of Fu Yue and the quest of Wu Ding are vividly portrayed, like a clear stream flowing through a creek, endlessly inspiring future generations and setting an example for millennia.

有诗一首A poem

《酬韦相公见寄》

唐末五代·贯休

盐梅金鼎美调和，诗寄空林问讯多。

秦客弈棋抛已久，楞严禅髓更无过。

万般如幻希先觉，一丈临山且奈何。

空讽平津好珠玉，不知更得及门么?

"Reply to Minister Wei's Sent Poem"

Salt and plums blend beautifully in the golden cauldron, Poetry sent to the quiet forest inquires much.

The Qin guest has long abandoned the chess game, And nothing surpasses the essence of the Shurangama in Zen.

All is illusion, hoping for early awakening, Yet facing the mountain, what can one do?

In vain, praising the fine pearls and jades of Pingjin, Not knowing if one can still attain the gate's entrance.

——Late Tang and Five Dynasties · Guan Xiu

责任编辑：苗君