📖 Meaning
Describes the quiet, idyllic life of a countryside village. The four items—chickens, dogs, mulberry trees, and hemp—symbolize the simple elements of rural living, evoking an atmosphere of pastoral peace and self-sufficiency.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Qing dynasty novel Wenming Xiaoshi (A Brief History of Civilization) by Li Baojia, specifically Chapter 53. In the original passage, the author describes a scene where vegetables are planted in the fields and flowers grow along the fences, remarking that it carries the atmosphere of '鸡犬桑麻'—chickens, dogs, mulberry, and hemp. The imagery draws on traditional symbols of agrarian life, where poultry and livestock wander among mulberry and hemp crops, portraying an idealized vision of rural tranquility.
💡 Example Usage
远离城市喧嚣，他在乡间小院里过起了鸡犬桑麻的恬静生活。
Far from the city's hustle and bustle, he settled into a tranquil rural life of chickens, dogs, mulberry, and hemp in his countryside courtyard.
🏷️ Category
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🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 鸡犬桑麻
- Pinyin: jī quǎn sāng má
- Literal Translation: chicken, dog, mulberry, hemp
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4