📖 Meaning
A metaphor for fondly recalling the grand occasions of the past. Tianbao was the reign title of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, representing the height of the Tang Dynasty's prosperity. It expresses nostalgia for a golden age that has passed.
📜 Origin Story
Tianbao (742-756 CE) was the reign era name of Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji) of the Tang Dynasty. During this period, the Tang Empire reached its zenith of wealth, power, and cultural brilliance, with Chang'an as the most cosmopolitan city in the world. The An Lushan Rebellion that erupted in 755 shattered this golden age and sent the dynasty into decline. Later writers used the phrase to evoke the splendor of that lost era of greatness.
💡 Example Usage
提起天宝当年的盛况，老人们无不感慨万千。
When recalling the splendor of the Tianbao years, the elders could not help but sigh with deep emotion.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 天宝当年
- Pinyin: tian bao dang nian
- Literal Translation: Tianbao, that, year
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4