📖 Meaning
Originally referring to the flowers and grass of the immortal realm imagined by the ancients, this idiom now describes crystal-clear, exquisite flowers and plants. The characters 琪 and 瑶 both denote types of beautiful jade, lending a sense of preciousness and ethereal beauty.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Tang dynasty poet Wang Gu's (王轂) poem 'Mengxian Yao' (梦仙谣), or 'Ballad of Dreaming of Immortals,' which describes a journey through a fairyland of breathtaking scenery. The line reads, 'As the journey progresses, the scenery grows ever more splendid—jade flowers, piece by piece, cling to jade grass.' The poem evokes the Daoist ideal of a celestial paradise where everything is made of precious jade and radiant light. Over time, the expression shifted from its mythological context to describe any extraordinarily beautiful flowers and plants in the mortal world.
💡 Example Usage
这座皇家园林遍植琪花瑶草，四时景色如画。
The imperial garden was planted throughout with jade-like flowers and exquisite grass, its scenery picturesque in every season.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 琪花瑶草
- Pinyin: qí huā yáo cǎo
- Literal Translation: fine jade flowers, precious jade grass
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4