唐(tang)玄宗(zong)因病晝(zhou)臥。夢一大(da)鬼(gui)破帽藍(lan)包、角帶(dai)朝(chao)靴(xue),捉(zhuo)小(xiao)鬼(gui)啖之(zhi)(zhi)。自稱終南進士鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗,應舉不(bu)第,觸階而(er)死。玄宗(zong)夢覺而(er)疾愈,命畫(hua)(hua)家(jia)吳道(dao)子圖其(qi)(qi)象。其(qi)(qi)說自唐(tang)時(shi)始傳,時(shi)翰林院例于(yu)歲末進鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗像,皇帝并以之(zhi)(zhi)賜(si)大(da)臣。民間(jian)亦是懸(xuan)像于(yu)門(men)首,謂可驅邪(xie)逐鬼(gui)。唐(tang)、宋時(shi)掛鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗像多在歲首,其(qi)(qi)后則改在端午(wu)。唐(tang)張說有《謝賜(si)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗畫(hua)(hua)表(biao)》劉禹錫(xi)有《代杜(du)相公謝賜(si)鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗歷日表(biao)》。《新五(wu)(wu)代史·吳越世家(jia)》:“歲除,畫(hua)(hua)工獻《鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗擊鬼(gui)圖》。”宋沈括《補筆(bi)談》:“熙寧(ning)五(wu)(wu)年,上(shang)令畫(hua)(hua)工模搨吳道(dao)子鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗像鐫版。除夜,遣內供(gong)奉官梁楷(kai)就(jiu)東西府給賜(si)。”清顧(gu)祿《清嘉錄·五(wu)(wu)月(yue)·掛鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗圖》:“堂中掛鐘(zhong)(zhong)馗畫(hua)(hua)圖一月(yue),以祛(qu)邪(xie)魅。”又引(yin)吳曼云《江鄉節物詞》小(xiao)序:“杭俗,鐘(zhong)(zhong)進士畫(hua)(hua)像,端午(wu)懸(xuan)之(zhi)(zhi)以逐疫。”
終(zhong)南進士舞龍泉,端午時節壁上懸。
仗君辟邪殲(jian)群(qun)丑,免得(de)鬼魅擾(rao)人間。
《事(shi)物紀(ji)原》中(zhong)說:唐明皇(huang)夢小(xiao)(xiao)鬼(gui)(gui)喧擾,有大鬼(gui)(gui)捉小(xiao)(xiao)鬼(gui)(gui)食之。問(wen)為誰,對曰臣終南進(jin)士鐘馗(kui)也。因應舉不捷(jie),觸殿階而死,誓除天下(xia)虛耗妖孽。明皇(huang)乃召吳道子畫(hua)(hua)(hua)鐘馗(kui)像供之。后民間(jian)(jian)亦多供奉。清李(li)福(fu)有《鐘馗(kui)圖(tu)(tu)》詩:『面目猙獰(ning)膽氣粗,榴紅蒲碧(bi)座懸(xuan)圖(tu)(tu)。仗君掃蕩幺么枝,免(mian)使人(ren)間(jian)(jian)鬼(gui)(gui)畫(hua)(hua)(hua)符。』即描(miao)寫在端午時供鐘馗(kui)事(shi)。《燕京歲(sui)時記》:『每至端陽市(shi),肆間(jian)(jian)用(yong)尺幅(fu)黃(huang)紙(zhi),蓋以朱印(yin),或繪畫(hua)(hua)(hua)天師鐘馗(kui)之像,或繪畫(hua)(hua)(hua)五(wu)毒符咒之形,懸(xuan)而售(shou)之。都人(ren)士爭相購買,粘之中(zhong)門,以避祟(sui)惡(e)。』