📖 Meaning
Lingering customs and practices handed down from previous generations. It refers to traditional ways of life or cultural habits that persist from an earlier era. The phrase is interchangeable with 遗风余俗.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Song Dynasty catalog 'Xuanhe Calligraphy Records' (宣和书谱) in the section on Wei Heng (卫恒), a Western Jin calligrapher. The text praises how the Wei family's calligraphic learning was passed down through four generations without decline, comparing their enduring tradition favorably with the inherited scholarly customs of the prestigious Wang and Xie families of the Jin Dynasty. It thus describes cultural or familial practices that endure across generations.
💡 Example Usage
江南古镇至今仍保留着旧时的遗风余习，节庆礼仪别具韵味。
The ancient towns of Jiangnan still preserve the lingering customs and practices of olden times, with festival rituals of unique charm.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 遗风余习
- Pinyin: yí fēng yú xí
- Literal Translation: left-behind, customs, remaining, habits
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4