唐(tang)玄宗因病晝臥。夢一大(da)(da)鬼破帽藍包、角帶朝靴(xue),捉(zhuo)小鬼啖之。自(zi)稱終南進(jin)士鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui),應舉不第(di),觸(chu)階(jie)而死。玄宗夢覺(jue)而疾愈,命畫家吳(wu)道子圖(tu)其(qi)象(xiang)。其(qi)說自(zi)唐(tang)時始(shi)傳,時翰林(lin)院(yuan)例于歲(sui)末進(jin)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)像,皇帝并以之賜(si)大(da)(da)臣(chen)。民間亦(yi)是懸像于門首,謂(wei)可驅邪(xie)(xie)逐(zhu)(zhu)鬼。唐(tang)、宋時掛鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)像多(duo)在(zai)歲(sui)首,其(qi)后則改在(zai)端午。唐(tang)張說有《謝(xie)賜(si)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)畫表》劉(liu)禹錫有《代(dai)杜相公(gong)謝(xie)賜(si)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)歷(li)日表》。《新五代(dai)史(shi)·吳(wu)越世(shi)家》:“歲(sui)除(chu),畫工(gong)獻《鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)擊鬼圖(tu)》。”宋沈括《補筆(bi)談》:“熙寧五年(nian),上令畫工(gong)模搨吳(wu)道子鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)像鐫(juan)版。除(chu)夜,遣內供奉官梁楷(kai)就東西府(fu)給賜(si)。”清顧祿《清嘉錄·五月(yue)·掛鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)圖(tu)》:“堂中(zhong)掛鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)馗(kui)畫圖(tu)一月(yue),以祛邪(xie)(xie)魅。”又引吳(wu)曼云(yun)《江鄉節物詞》小序:“杭俗(su),鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)進(jin)士畫像,端午懸之以逐(zhu)(zhu)疫。”
終南進士舞龍泉,端午時節(jie)壁上懸(xuan)。
仗君辟(pi)邪殲(jian)群丑,免得鬼魅擾人間。
《事物紀原》中說:唐明(ming)(ming)皇(huang)夢小鬼喧擾,有大鬼捉小鬼食之。問為誰,對曰臣(chen)終南進士鐘馗(kui)也(ye)。因應舉不捷,觸殿階(jie)而死,誓除(chu)天下虛耗妖孽。明(ming)(ming)皇(huang)乃(nai)召(zhao)吳道子畫鐘馗(kui)像供(gong)之。后(hou)民間亦多供(gong)奉。清李(li)福有《鐘馗(kui)圖》詩(shi):『面目猙獰膽氣粗(cu),榴紅蒲碧座懸(xuan)圖。仗(zhang)君掃蕩幺么枝,免使人間鬼畫符(fu)。』即描寫在端午時供(gong)鐘馗(kui)事。《燕京歲(sui)時記》:『每至端陽市,肆間用尺幅黃紙,蓋以(yi)朱(zhu)印,或繪(hui)畫天師鐘馗(kui)之像,或繪(hui)畫五(wu)毒符(fu)咒之形,懸(xuan)而售之。都人士爭相購買,粘(zhan)之中門,以(yi)避(bi)祟惡。』