📖 Meaning
This idiom refers to the phoenix and the qilin, legendary auspicious creatures from ancient Chinese mythology that were believed to appear only during times of peace and prosperity. It is used metaphorically to describe exceptionally rare and outstanding talent.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom draws from historical records of auspicious omens. The 'Treatise on Auspicious Omens' (符瑞志) records that in the fourth year of the Yuankang era, Nan Commandery captured a 'weifeng' (majestic phoenix). Separately, the 'Treatise on Music' (乐志) records that in the ninth year, Lanzhou presented a 'xianglin' (auspicious qilin). In ancient Chinese mythology, the phoenix and qilin were legendary creatures believed to appear only during peaceful and prosperous times, hence the idiom came to symbolize extraordinarily rare talent.
💡 Example Usage
像他这样德才兼备的人才，可谓威风祥麟，世间少有。
A talent like him—both virtuous and capable—is truly a rare phoenix and qilin, seldom seen in this world.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 威风祥麟
- Pinyin: wēi fēng xiáng lín
- Literal Translation: majestic wind, auspicious, qilin
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4