📖 Meaning
Literally meaning to harness the wind as one's carriage and drive the rosy clouds as one's steeds, this idiom describes Daoist immortals roaming freely through the heavens. It is used metaphorically to refer to wandering freely across the world in a carefree, unrestrained manner.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from a letter titled 'To Xiao Weidou' written by Jie Xisi, a scholar of the Yuan dynasty. In the letter, Jie Xisi tells Xiao Weidou that if he truly wishes to withdraw from worldly affairs and live in seclusion in the mountains, he could follow the example of ancient hermits like Chao Fu, Xu You, Wu Guang, and Juan Lu. He could also emulate recluses like Yan Ling and Lu Zhonglian. Furthermore, even if he wished to ride the wind and clouds like legendary immortals such as Wo Quan, An Qisheng, Xian Men, Lu Ao, and Xu Fu, that too would be acceptable.
💡 Example Usage
他辞官归隐后，整日骖风驷霞，游历名山大川，好不自在。
After resigning from his official post and retiring to seclusion, he spent his days roaming the famous mountains and great rivers as freely as an immortal riding the wind and clouds.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 骖风驷霞
- Pinyin: cēn fēng sì xiá
- Literal Translation: harness wind, drive rosy clouds
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4