📖 Meaning
A gentle breeze that does not cause branches to rustle. It metaphorically describes a peaceful, stable society where the climate is mild and harmonious. The phrase evokes an ideal state of governance under which nature itself seems benign.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from Han dynasty texts. Huan Kuan's 'Yantie Lun' (Discourses on Salt and Iron) describes the era of the Duke of Zhou, when the world was at peace, the nation suffered no premature deaths, and no years of famine; at that time, rain did not break clods of earth and wind did not make branches sing. Wang Chong's 'Lunheng' echoes the same image, portraying ideal governance where winds are gentle enough not to rustle branches and rain falls softly enough not to break the soil, with a favorable wind every five days and rain every ten days.
💡 Example Usage
在这风不鸣条的太平盛世里，百姓安居乐业，共享太平。
In this peaceful and prosperous age where gentle breezes never stir the branches, the people live in harmony and enjoy the tranquility.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 风不鸣条
- Pinyin: fēng bù míng tiáo
- Literal Translation: wind, not, sound, branch
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4