Chinese Idiom: 惊天动地 (Jing Tian Dong Di)
English Translation: Shocking the heavens and moving the earth
pīn yīn: jīng tiān dòng dì
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a voice or reputation that is resoundingly loud and impactful, often used to characterize great undertakings or achievements.
Historical Source: From Bai Juyi’s poem 李白墓 (Tomb of Li Bai) during the Tang Dynasty.
Idiom Story:
In 759 AD, the poet Li Bai was nearing the end of his exile to Yelang when he arrived at Baidi City in Sichuan and was granted amnesty, allowing him to return to Jiangnan. He continued to wander through Jiangsu and Anhui. Two years later, in 761 AD, the rebel leader Shi Siming was killed by his son Shi Chaoyi, who then led his forces southward. To counter Shi Chaoyi’s rebellion, General Li Guangbi stationed his troops in Linhuai (now southeast of Suxian, Anhui). At the age of 61, despite his advanced years, Li Bai still harbored ambitions of serving his country and was excited to join the military. Unfortunately, he fell gravely ill on his way and had to turn back.
The following year, Li Bai arrived in Dangtu, Anhui, where he sought refuge with his cousin, the county magistrate Li Yangbing. As his health continued to deteriorate, he realized he was unlikely to recover. He entrusted his poetry manuscripts to Li Yangbing for compilation and preface. In November of that year, before passing away, he composed a final poem titled 临终歌 (Song at Death’s Door), expressing his grand aspirations:
“The great roc soars, shaking the eight corners;
In mid-air, it breaks down, its strength failing.
The wind it stirs will remain for ages;
I’ll hang my left sleeve on the mulberry tree.
Those who receive this will pass it on;
Confucius is gone; who will weep for the sound?”
The poem likens Li Bai’s ambitions to the legendary roc, soaring high but ultimately exhausting itself. Despite not fully realizing his potential, the traces of his spirit and artistry would endure. He reflects on the sorrow of losing great figures and the silence of their passing.
After Li Bai’s death, he was buried at the foot of Longshan Mountain in Caishi County. In 799 AD, 37 years after Li Bai’s passing, the young poet Bai Juyi, on his way to take an examination in Xuanzhou, visited Li Bai’s tomb. Moved by admiration and regret for Li Bai’s fate, he recited Li Bai’s 临终歌 and composed a memorial poem, 李白墓 (Tomb of Li Bai):
“By the Caishi River lies Li Bai’s grave,
Surrounding fields, endless grass connects with the clouds.
Alas, the bones of this once-great poet lie in desolation,
He once penned works that shocked the heavens and moved the earth.
Yet, poets often meet with misfortune,
Among them, yours was a tragic fate.”
Bai Juyi’s lines reflect the profound impact and legacy of Li Bai’s poetry, now expressed through the idiom 惊天动地, which encapsulates the power of Li Bai’s remarkable literary contributions, as well as the tragic arc of his life.
