唐(tang)玄宗因(yin)病(bing)晝臥。夢(meng)一大鬼破帽藍包、角帶朝靴,捉小(xiao)鬼啖之(zhi)(zhi)。自(zi)(zi)稱終南(nan)進(jin)士(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)(kui),應舉不第(di),觸階而(er)死。玄宗夢(meng)覺而(er)疾(ji)愈,命畫(hua)(hua)家(jia)吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)子(zi)圖其(qi)象(xiang)。其(qi)說自(zi)(zi)唐(tang)時(shi)始傳(chuan),時(shi)翰林院(yuan)例(li)于歲(sui)末進(jin)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),皇帝并以(yi)之(zhi)(zhi)賜大臣。民間亦是(shi)懸像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)于門首,謂可(ke)驅邪逐(zhu)鬼。唐(tang)、宋時(shi)掛鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)多在歲(sui)首,其(qi)后則(ze)改在端午。唐(tang)張說有(you)《謝(xie)賜鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)畫(hua)(hua)表》劉禹錫有(you)《代杜相公謝(xie)賜鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)歷日表》。《新(xin)五代史·吳(wu)越世家(jia)》:“歲(sui)除(chu),畫(hua)(hua)工(gong)(gong)獻(xian)《鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)擊鬼圖》。”宋沈(shen)括《補筆談(tan)》:“熙寧五年,上令畫(hua)(hua)工(gong)(gong)模搨(ta)吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)子(zi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)鐫(juan)版。除(chu)夜,遣內供奉官梁(liang)楷就東(dong)西府給賜。”清顧祿《清嘉錄·五月·掛鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)圖》:“堂中掛鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)(kui)畫(hua)(hua)圖一月,以(yi)祛邪魅。”又引吳(wu)曼云《江(jiang)鄉節物(wu)詞》小(xiao)序:“杭(hang)俗,鐘(zhong)(zhong)進(jin)士(shi)畫(hua)(hua)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),端午懸之(zhi)(zhi)以(yi)逐(zhu)疫。”
終南進士舞龍泉,端午時節壁(bi)上懸。
仗君辟邪(xie)殲群丑,免得(de)鬼魅擾人間。
《事(shi)(shi)物紀(ji)原》中說:唐明皇夢小鬼喧擾,有(you)大鬼捉小鬼食之(zhi)。問為(wei)誰,對曰(yue)臣(chen)終南進士鐘(zhong)馗也。因應(ying)舉不捷,觸(chu)殿階而死,誓除天(tian)下虛耗(hao)妖孽。明皇乃召吳(wu)道子畫鐘(zhong)馗像供(gong)之(zhi)。后民間(jian)亦(yi)多供(gong)奉。清李(li)福有(you)《鐘(zhong)馗圖》詩:『面(mian)目猙獰膽(dan)氣(qi)粗,榴紅(hong)蒲(pu)碧(bi)座懸圖。仗君掃(sao)蕩幺(yao)么枝,免使人間(jian)鬼畫符。』即描寫在端(duan)午(wu)時供(gong)鐘(zhong)馗事(shi)(shi)。《燕京歲時記(ji)》:『每(mei)至端(duan)陽市,肆間(jian)用尺幅黃紙,蓋以朱印(yin),或繪畫天(tian)師鐘(zhong)馗之(zhi)像,或繪畫五毒符咒(zhou)之(zhi)形(xing),懸而售(shou)之(zhi)。都人士爭相(xiang)購買,粘之(zhi)中門,以避(bi)祟(sui)惡。』