📖 Meaning
A peerless masterpiece through the ages; a work of exceptional brilliance rarely seen in any era. It is synonymous with 千古绝唱, used to praise creative works of supreme artistic achievement.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from Qing dynasty scholar Zhao Yi's work 'Oubei Shihua' (瓯北诗话), in his commentary on the poetry of Cha Chubai. Zhao discussed the poet Wang Shizhen (courtesy name Yuyang, styled Ruanting), who emphasized 'shenyun' (spiritual resonance) in poetry. Zhao cited Wang's poem about Liu Yong's tomb at Yizheng—'On the fairy-palm road of waning moon and morning wind, who comes to mourn Liu Tuntian?'—calling its restrained, suggestive quality a true peerless masterpiece of the ages. Later writers such as Fei Xihuang in 'Han Shi Zong Shuo' also used the phrase to describe works born of profound sorrow.
💡 Example Usage
杜甫的《登高》沉郁顿挫，堪称千古绝调。
Du Fu's 'Climbing High' is profoundly restrained and powerful, truly a peerless masterpiece for the ages.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 千古绝调
- Pinyin: qiān gǔ jué diào
- Literal Translation: thousand, ages, peerless, tune
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4