📖 Meaning
To cross vast seas and scale high mountains. It describes undergoing an arduous and distant journey, often to express the great lengths one goes to reach a goal or fulfill a duty.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the preface to the 'Ode to the Great Dharma' (大法颂) composed by Emperor Jianwen of Liang (南朝梁简文帝) during the Southern Dynasties period. In it, envoys were described as crossing seas and climbing mountains to present tribute of white jade rings to the court. Tang dynasty scholar Yu Jing (于兢) later used it in his 'Stele of Virtuous Governance for Wang Shenzhi' to praise the loyalty of tributary envoys who traveled great distances to pay homage.
💡 Example Usage
海外使臣航海梯山，年年入朝进贡，从不间断。
Envoys from overseas crossed seas and climbed mountains to come to court each year with tribute, never once breaking the chain.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 航海梯山
- Pinyin: háng hǎi tī shān
- Literal Translation: sail sea, climb mountain
- Category: Perseverance
- Characters: 4