Couplet - couplet

It can also be read as "tsui-ren." In China, a pair of phrases is pasted or hung on gates or pillars, and is also called "tai-shi" or "tai-ji." Auspicious characters such as "Poetry, the legacy of the LORD, the faithful and venerable" are written on two separate pieces of red paper or board and pasted on the wall. Usually, they are five or seven characters long, but there are also four or six character phrases. These are hung on the left and right sides of the front of a room, and often a single hanging scroll is hung in the middle. They are also pasted separately on the left and right sides of entrances, walls, and altars. Those pasted on gateposts and doors are called "mon-ren," those pasted on house pillars are called "ei-ren," those celebrating the New Year are called "shun-ren," those celebrating weddings are called "ki-ren," those celebrating longevity are called "shou-ren," and those offering condolences are called "ban-ren."

[Jun Shimizu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

「ついれん」とも読む。中国で門や柱などに貼(は)ったり吊(つ)るしたりする対(つい)になった文句のことで、「対子(たいし)」「対字(たいじ)」ともいう。「詩書継世長　忠厚伝家久」などというめでたい文字を赤い紙や板に二枚に書き分けて貼る。普通は、五言句、七言句であるが、四字句、六字句などもある。部屋の正面の左右にこれを掛け、真ん中には一枚ものの掛け物を掛けることも多い。入口、壁、祭壇に左右に分けて貼ったりもする。門柱、門扉に貼るのは門聯、家の柱に貼るのは楹(えい)聯、新年を祝うものは春聯、結婚の祝いには喜聯、長寿を祝うものは寿聯、弔問は輓(ばん)聯とよばれる。

［清水　純］

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