📖 Meaning
Literally "plucking a cassia branch in the moon." It is a metaphor for passing the imperial civil service examination and achieving scholarly success. The imagery draws on the legend of a cassia tree growing in the moon palace.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom draws on the ancient Chinese legend of a cassia (osmanthus) tree that grows eternally in the moon palace. During the Tang dynasty, "plucking cassia" (折桂) became an established metaphor for passing the imperial examination, as successful candidates were said to have plucked the celestial cassia branch. The addition of "月中" (in the moon) reinforces the heavenly imagery, suggesting the achiever has reached an extraordinary height of scholarly accomplishment. The phrase is closely tied to the examination culture of imperial China.
💡 Example Usage
他苦读十年，终于月中折桂，高中状元。
After ten years of diligent study, he finally plucked the cassia in the moon and placed first in the imperial examination.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 月中折桂
- Pinyin: yuè zhōng shé guì
- Literal Translation: moon, middle, pluck, cassia
- Category: Success
- Characters: 4