六月飛霜
Chinese
June; sixth month of the Chinese calendar | to fly | frost | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (六月飛霜) | 六月 | 飛 | 霜 | |
simp. (六月飞霜) | 六月 | 飞 | 霜 | |
Literally: “snow in sixth month of the Chinese calendar (mid-Summer)”. |
Etymology
From a legend related to Zou Yan, which was believed to be from Huainanzi:
- 鄒衍事燕惠王盡忠,左右贊之;王系之,仰天而哭。夏五月,天為之下霜。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Xu Jian, Zhang Yue, Wei Shu; Chu Xue Ji (《初學記》), c. 7th Century
- Zōu Yǎn shì Yàn Huìwáng jìnzhōng, zuǒyòu zàn zhī; wáng xì zhī, yǎngtiān ér kū. Xià wǔyuè, tiān wèi zhī xià shuāng. [Pinyin]
- Zou Yan was very loyal to the King Hui of Yan, he was praised by the King's ministers. But the King imprisoned him, Zou cried his heart out. In Summer when it was the fifth month (approximately June to July in the Gregorian calendar), the Heaven snowed for him.
邹衍事燕惠王尽忠,左右赞之;王系之,仰天而哭。夏五月,天为之下霜。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Later popularized through the play The Injustice to Dou E in Yuan dynasty.
Pronunciation
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