Xuan Ran Da Bo – A vast wave arises

Idiom Story:

In the first year of the Yongzhen era during the Tang Dynasty, renowned writer Han Yu returned to the capital, Chang’an, after being pardoned from his exile in Yangshan (now in Guangdong Province). He had high hopes of meeting an enlightened emperor who would assign him important responsibilities to fulfill his ambitions. However, he was disappointed when he was first made to wait in Liuzhou and then appointed as a minor official—a judicial assistant in Jiangling, which felt like a continuation of his previous exile.

Feeling dejected and indignant, Han Yu, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, invited his fellow exiled friend, Zhang Gongcao, to drink and compose poetry under the bright moon. Reflecting on his desire to serve the country and the repeated setbacks he faced, he penned the famous seven-character poem Ba Yue Shi Wu Ye Zeng Zhang Gongcao (《八月十五夜赠张功曹》), expressing his deep melancholy with lines like “Tonight, the bright moon shines more than once; life is fated, not determined by others; what can I do but drink?”

In November of that year, while en route to Jiangling, Han Yu encountered Dou Xiang, who was serving as a military advisor in Wuchang. After visiting the scenic Yueyang Tower together, Han Yu wrote a five-character poem titled Yueyang Lou Bie Dou Sizh (《岳阳楼别窦司直》). The first half of the poem describes the scenery of Yueyang Tower, while the latter half reflects on his past and expresses his frustrations.

Within this poem, he writes:

“炎风日搜搅，幽怪多冗长。
轩然大波起，宇宙隘而妨。”

(Translation: “The scorching winds churn the waves; eerie and strange, they are long and abundant. A vast wave arises, blocking the universe.”)

From this passage, the idiom “轩然大波” emerged, symbolizing the significant turmoil and disturbances that can arise in life or society.