Chinese Idiom: 乘龙快婿 (Cheng Long Kuai Xu)
English Translation: The Son-in-Law Riding the Dragon
pīn yīn: chéng lóng kuài xù
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to an ideal son-in-law who is both talented and handsome, meeting all expectations.
Historical Source: From Liu Xiang’s Lie Xian Zhuan (《列仙传》) during the Han Dynasty.
Idiom Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Mu of Qin had a young daughter who cherished a piece of jade given by the Western Rong tribe. The Duke named her “Nongyu” (弄玉), which means “Playing with Jade.” Nongyu grew up to be exceptionally beautiful and talented, but she was reclusive and detested the court’s elaborate ceremonies. She preferred to stay alone in the palace, playing the bamboo flute and the sheng (a traditional Chinese mouth organ). Seeing her passion, Duke Mu had the jade carved into a jade sheng and presented it to her, which made her even more dedicated to mastering the instrument.
Duke Mu intended to find a prince from a neighboring kingdom for Nongyu to marry, envisioning her as the future queen. However, Nongyu was adamant that she would only marry someone who was an expert in music, particularly in playing the sheng. Duke Mu, who cherished his daughter, reluctantly agreed to her condition.
One night, as Nongyu played her sheng under the moonlight, she heard ethereal music accompanying her, which seemed to come from the distant east. For several nights, this mysterious music persisted. Nongyu mentioned this to her father during a casual conversation. Intrigued, Duke Mu sent General Meng Ming to locate the source of the music. After a search, Meng Ming learned from local woodcutters that a young hermit named Xiao Shi lived in the Star Peak of Mount Hua and was renowned for his flute playing.
Meng Ming found Xiao Shi and brought him to the Qin palace. It happened to be the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Duke Mu was delighted to meet the young musician. He immediately requested Xiao Shi to play the flute. As Xiao Shi played, the palace’s golden dragons and colorful phoenixes seemed to dance in harmony with the music, and everyone marveled at the celestial quality of the performance.
Xiao Shi married Nongyu, and together they lived in the palace, where Xiao Shi taught Nongyu to play the flute in such a way that her music mimicked the call of real phoenixes. Their music was so enchanting that it even attracted phoenixes from the sky to perch on their residence. Duke Mu, impressed by their achievements, built a Phoenix Terrace for them, where they lived in seclusion, dedicating themselves entirely to their art.
The idiom “乘龙快婿” (the son-in-law riding the dragon) comes from this story, symbolizing a perfect match, where the son-in-law not only fulfills the high expectations set by the family but also brings exceptional talent and qualities, much like the idealized son-in-law in the tale.
