📖 Meaning
To ride upon mythical phoenix-like birds and divine cranes. It is a metaphor for attaining immortality and transcending the mortal world. The idiom evokes the Daoist ideal of becoming a celestial being.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom draws on Daoist imagery of immortals riding auspicious birds such as the luan (a phoenix-like creature) and the crane to ascend to the heavens. Cranes and luans were regarded in Chinese mythology as mounts of the immortals, symbolizing purity, longevity, and transcendence. The phrase reflects the ancient aspiration to escape worldly concerns and achieve divine status, a theme common in poetry and Daoist literature across various dynasties.
💡 Example Usage
诗人向往骖鸾驭鹤的仙人生活，常在诗中寄托出世的情怀。
The poet longed for the immortal life of riding cranes and phoenixes, often expressing his desire to leave the worldly realm in his verse.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 骖鸾驭鹤
- Pinyin: cān luán yù hè
- Literal Translation: harness the luan, drive the crane
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4