Fan Chengda was one of the best known poets of the Song Dynasty in addition to serving as a government official, and an academic authority in geography. He often wrote employed a narrative and prose style approach to writing about one's travel experiences, which was popular in China during the Song Dynasty. He, along with Yang Wanli, Lu You, and You Mao, are considered to be the "four masters" of Southern Song dynasty poetry.
This poem details the ancient Lunar New Year practice of "selling silliness", which brings wishes, both for a long life and increased intelligence.