唐(tang)玄宗(zong)因病晝臥。夢(meng)一(yi)大鬼(gui)破帽藍包、角(jiao)帶朝靴,捉小鬼(gui)啖之。自稱終南進(jin)士鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗,應(ying)舉不第,觸階而死。玄宗(zong)夢(meng)覺(jue)而疾愈,命畫(hua)家吳(wu)道子(zi)圖(tu)其象。其說自唐(tang)時(shi)始傳,時(shi)翰林院例于(yu)歲末進(jin)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗像(xiang)(xiang),皇帝(di)并以之賜(si)大臣。民間(jian)亦(yi)是懸像(xiang)(xiang)于(yu)門首,謂(wei)可驅邪(xie)逐鬼(gui)。唐(tang)、宋時(shi)掛(gua)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗像(xiang)(xiang)多在(zai)歲首,其后則改在(zai)端(duan)(duan)午。唐(tang)張說有《謝賜(si)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗畫(hua)表》劉(liu)禹錫有《代杜相公(gong)謝賜(si)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗歷(li)日表》。《新五(wu)代史·吳(wu)越世家》:“歲除(chu),畫(hua)工獻《鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗擊鬼(gui)圖(tu)》。”宋沈括《補筆談》:“熙寧五(wu)年,上令畫(hua)工模(mo)搨吳(wu)道子(zi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗像(xiang)(xiang)鐫版。除(chu)夜,遣內供奉官(guan)梁楷就東西(xi)府(fu)給賜(si)。”清(qing)顧(gu)祿《清(qing)嘉錄·五(wu)月·掛(gua)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗圖(tu)》:“堂(tang)中掛(gua)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗畫(hua)圖(tu)一(yi)月,以祛邪(xie)魅。”又引(yin)吳(wu)曼云《江鄉(xiang)節物詞》小序:“杭俗(su),鐘(zhong)(zhong)進(jin)士畫(hua)像(xiang)(xiang),端(duan)(duan)午懸之以逐疫。”
終南進(jin)士舞龍泉,端(duan)午(wu)時節(jie)壁(bi)上懸。
仗君辟邪殲群丑,免(mian)得(de)鬼(gui)魅擾(rao)人(ren)間(jian)。
《事物(wu)紀原》中(zhong)說:唐明皇夢小鬼(gui)(gui)喧擾,有(you)大鬼(gui)(gui)捉小鬼(gui)(gui)食(shi)之(zhi)。問為誰,對曰臣終南進士鐘(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)也。因應舉不(bu)捷,觸殿階而(er)死,誓除天(tian)下虛耗妖孽。明皇乃召吳道子(zi)畫鐘(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)像供之(zhi)。后民間(jian)亦多供奉。清李福有(you)《鐘(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)圖(tu)(tu)》詩:『面目猙獰(ning)膽氣(qi)粗(cu),榴紅(hong)蒲碧座懸圖(tu)(tu)。仗君掃蕩幺么枝,免使(shi)人間(jian)鬼(gui)(gui)畫符。』即描(miao)寫(xie)在端午時(shi)供鐘(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)事。《燕(yan)京歲時(shi)記》:『每至端陽市,肆間(jian)用尺幅黃紙,蓋以(yi)朱印(yin),或繪畫天(tian)師(shi)鐘(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)之(zhi)像,或繪畫五毒符咒之(zhi)形,懸而(er)售之(zhi)。都(dou)人士爭相購(gou)買(mai),粘(zhan)之(zhi)中(zhong)門,以(yi)避祟惡。』