Ji Quan Sheng Tian – Chickens and dogs ascend to heaven

Ji Quan Sheng Tian Chickens And Dogs Ascend To Heaven

Chinese Idiom: 鸡犬升天 (Ji Quan Sheng Tian)

English Translation: Chickens and dogs ascend to heaven

pīn yīn: jī quǎn shēng tiān

Idiom Meaning: This idiom metaphorically describes a situation where a person rises to a high position, and those connected to them also gain power or benefits.

Historical Source: Shen Xian Zhuan (《神仙传·刘安》) by Ge Hong.

Idiom Story:

Shen Xian Zhuan, authored by Ge Hong during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, consists of ten volumes narrating the stories of ninety-four deities from ancient legends. Among these tales, the chapter titled “Liu An” recounts the life of Liu An, the grandson of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty.

Liu An was a man of great literary and philosophical interests, deeply engaged in the quest for immortality and Taoist practices. He surrounded himself with thousands of guests and Taoist practitioners. One day, eight ethereal old men sought an audience with him, claiming to possess the “art of counteracting aging” and wishing to share their knowledge. However, Liu An, upon hearing the news from his attendants, dismissed them, thinking that since they were already old, they could not possibly have any method to restore youth.

In response to his rejection, the eight old men magically transformed into young boys of about fourteen or fifteen years old. Upon learning this, Liu An rushed out to greet them, forgetting to put on his shoes, and bowed deeply. In an instant, the boys reverted to their original old man forms. Liu An, impressed, invited them to stay at his residence, where he worshiped them daily, and they taught him the secrets of alchemy.

Later, someone reported to Emperor Wu of Han that Liu An was plotting a rebellion. The emperor dispatched officials to arrest Liu An and interrogate him. Under the old men’s guidance, Liu An, in a moment of crisis as his palace was besieged, ingested the elixir he had prepared. Miraculously, he ascended to heaven alongside the eight old men in broad daylight.

The leftover fragments of his elixir fell to the courtyard, where they were consumed by the chickens and dogs, which also ascended to heaven.

This story illustrates how Liu An’s rise and eventual fate were not limited to himself but extended to those connected to him, including the chickens and dogs. Thus, the idiom “鸡犬升天” symbolizes the idea that when one individual achieves success, those associated with them also share in the fortune.

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