📖 Meaning
A Buddhist term meaning to broadly save all sentient beings from the sea of suffering in the cycle of life and death. It describes the compassionate act of delivering all living beings toward liberation and enlightenment, reflecting the Mahayana ideal of universal salvation.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom comes from Ming Dynasty writer Feng Menglong's collection 'Jingshi Tongyan' (Stories to Awaken the World), in the tale 'Lü Dongbin's Flying Sword Slays the Yellow Dragon.' The original text describes expounding scriptures and the Dharma, widely opening the door of expedient means, and universally delivering sentient beings onto the path of Bodhi (enlightenment). The phrase is rooted in Mahayana Buddhist doctrine, which holds that bodhisattvas vow to save all beings before achieving their own nirvana. The tale itself blends Buddhist and Daoist themes through the figure of Lü Dongbin, a legendary Daoist immortal.
💡 Example Usage
这位高僧一生慈悲为怀，发愿普度群生。
The eminent monk lived his whole life guided by compassion, vowing to deliver all sentient beings.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 普度群生
- Pinyin: pǔ dù qún shēng
- Literal Translation: universally, deliver, all, sentient beings
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4