Chinese Idiom: 鹏程万里 (Peng Cheng Wan Li)
English Translation: A Thousand Miles of the Roc’s Journey
pīn yīn: péng chéng wàn lǐ
Idiom Meaning: To describe grand aspirations and an unlimited future.
Historical Source: From Zhuangzi (庄子), specifically the chapter “Free and Easy Wandering” (逍遥游).
Idiom Story:
“Free and Easy Wandering” is one of the most famous chapters in Zhuangzi. In this text, the notable philosopher Zhuang Zhou from the Warring States period tells a fable:
In ancient times, there was a giant fish in the Northern Ocean named “Kun.” This fish later transformed into a magnificent bird known as “Peng.” The size of the Peng was so immense that it was impossible to estimate; just its back was several thousand miles long. Every June, the Peng would fly to the southern sea, called “Tian Chi.” With a single flap of its wings, it could stir up waves that reached three thousand miles high; riding the whirlwind, it would soar upward, its back facing the sky, reaching altitudes of ninety thousand miles.
However, the little cicada and the dove mocked the Peng for its lofty ambitions, saying, “We can fly whenever we want and stop whenever we choose. But why does the Peng need to fly to such heights, nine thousand miles up?” A small sparrow also chimed in, saying, “What does the Peng want to fly so far for? Look at me; I can only hop a few feet high. If I wanted to fly, I’d just flutter among the weeds; that’s far enough to feel carefree. But where is it really trying to go?”
From this mythological story, the idiom “鹏程万里” was derived, symbolizing ambitious aspirations and the boundless potential of individuals.
