Cun Cao Chun Hui – A blade of grass cannot repay the spring sunshine

Idiom Story:

Meng Jiao, a poet from the Tang Dynasty, lived through the tumultuous period following the An Lushan Rebellion, which led to the decline of the Tang Dynasty and his own personal hardships. Despite his struggles, Meng Jiao’s poetry reflects a deep empathy for the common people and their suffering.

One of his most famous works, “Yóu zǐ yín” (《游子吟》), beautifully captures the tender relationship between a mother and her child. In the poem, Meng Jiao describes a scene where a poor, traveling son is about to embark on a long journey. His mother painstakingly mends his coarse clothes with meticulous care, ensuring that they are strong and durable. This act of care symbolizes her deep love and concern for her son’s well-being while he is away.

The poem includes the lines:

慈母手中线，游子身上衣。
临行密缝，离别的衣裳。
欲报之恩，寸草心难报春晖。

These lines translate to:

The thread in a loving mother’s hands, the clothes on the wandering child.
Sewn carefully for the journey, the parting garments.
To repay this kindness, a blade of grass can never repay the spring sunshine.

Meng Jiao uses the metaphor of “寸草” (a blade of grass) and “春晖” (spring sunshine) to illustrate that no matter how much one tries to repay their parents’ boundless love and care, it is always insufficient. Just as a tiny blade of grass can never fully repay the warmth of the spring sun, a child’s efforts are never enough to repay the immense love and sacrifices of their parents.

Today, the idiom “寸草春晖” is often used to express the immense gratitude and recognition of the unparalleled care and sacrifices made by parents, emphasizing the deep, often unrepayable nature of their love.