Chinese Idiom: 生花妙笔 (Sheng Hua Miao Bi)
English Translation: A pen that produces flowers
pīn yīn: shēng huā miào bǐ
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to exceptional writing talent, suggesting that one’s writing is so skillful that it seems to produce beautiful and elegant expressions effortlessly, much like how a brush might create blooming flowers.
Historical Source: Yunxian Zaji (《云仙杂记》) by Feng Zhi.
Idiom Story:
The story behind “生花妙笔” (shēng huā miào bǐ) involves the legendary Tang dynasty poet Li Bai. As a child, Li Bai was known for his intense dedication to learning and writing. According to legend, while studying under an oil lamp, he would write for hours on end. Exhausted, he once fell asleep at his desk.
In his dream, Li Bai imagined himself still writing, but as he did, his pen began to sprout vibrant flowers. The scent of these flowers was enchanting and pleasant. White paper seemed to fall from the sky, landing directly under his pen. Overjoyed, he continued to write with the magical brush, and soon, his surroundings were covered in these beautiful flowers, which were actually the words he had written.
This dream symbolized Li Bai’s extraordinary talent and creativity. His actual literary works, full of brilliance and beauty, earned him a place as one of China’s most revered poets. The idiom “生花妙笔” thus came to represent outstanding writing ability, suggesting that a writer’s skill can bring their words to life as if they were blooming flowers.
