The phoenix flew away from the high
platform in the Qin Kingdom.(鳳去秦樓)
In Chinese culture, there is a belief in a
special connection between the human body and the universe. Through specific
Taoist practices, some people can undergo special transformations of their body
and mind.
If someone is fortunate enough to succeed
in these practices, they can achieve immortality.
There is an unusual book from the Han
dynasty in China that recounts the stories of many ancient Chinese individuals
who achieved immortality.
During China's Spring and Autumn period,
there was a man named Xiao Shi who was exceptionally skilled at playing the
xiao, a traditional Chinese wind instrument with a long history. Made mostly of
bamboo, the xiao produces a serene and elegant sound.
Xiao Shi became an immortal through his own
cultivation, but he kept this a secret and lived a simple, unassuming life.
No one knew Xiao Shi's true age. He
appeared to be a young man in his early twenties: handsome, and strikingly
different from ordinary people.
He later fell in love with Princess Nongyu
of the Qin Kingdom. Their love was blessed by the King of Qin, and they
eventually married.
After their wedding, Xiao Shi taught Nongyu
to play the xiao, a type of vertical bamboo flute. Nongyu was very musically
talented and practised diligently every day. After several years, her skills on
the xiao were almost on a par with Xiao Shi's. The sound of her flute attracted
a phoenix. This very rare and precious bird flew to Xiao Shi and Nongyu's home
and stayed on their roof for a long time.
As phoenixes were considered a sign of
prosperity and divine protection, their appearance in a country was highly
significant. Upon hearing the news that a phoenix was perched on the roof of
Xiao Shi's house, the King of Qin made a decision.
The king built a very tall pavilion and
said to Xiao Shi and Nongyu, 'I give you this high platform.' Once you have
moved in, I am sure that the phoenix will also come and live on the rooftop
with you. I believe this will make our kingdom more noble and glorious.'
After they had moved in, Xiao Shi shared
his method of cultivating immortality with Nong Yu. As they continued to
practise, Nong Yu's body began to change; she no longer needed food or water.
For several years, the couple lived on the
platform, leading a simple life away from humanity.
One day, they told the King of Qin,
"We are going to a place only immortals can go. We are leaving today and
will never return.'
After saying this, Nong Yu embraced the
king one last time, tears streaming down her face.
That afternoon, the phoenix flew away from
the high platform in the Qin Kingdom and Xiao Shi and Nong Yu followed it into
the sky. From that day on, no one ever saw them again.
The idiom literally translates as 'the
phoenix flew away from the high platform in the Qin Kingdom'.
It has since been extended to describe the
departure of a lover.
Dear friend, what are your feelings or
thoughts after hearing this story?
Do you believe that humans can achieve
immortality through cultivation? Do you believe in the phoenix?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
鳳去秦樓(The phoenix flew away from the high
platform in the Qin Kingdom.)
中國人相信人體跟宇宙之間有一種特殊的關聯性，有些人可以通過一些特殊的道教的修練方式來讓自己的身體與心靈發生特殊的轉化。
若一個有福氣的人透過這些特殊的修練方式並且成功之後，這個人就可以達到長生不老的境界。
中國的漢王朝有一本很奇特的書，這本書中記載了很多中國古代的這些成為神仙的人的故事。
中國春秋時代，有一個名字叫做蕭史的男子，他非常的擅長吹簫，簫是一種歷史非常悠久的中國的傳統管樂器，這種樂器的材質大部分是用竹子做成，演奏時所發出的聲音讓人感覺到幽静與典雅。
蕭史透過自己的修練成為一個神仙，但是他沒有讓別人知道這件事，他過著簡單且低調的生活。
沒有人知道蕭史確實的年紀，他的外表看起來像是一個20幾歲的年輕人，他的容貌很英俊，他非常的耀眼，看起來就跟平常人有著明顯的不同。
蕭史後來與秦王國的名字叫做(弄玉)的公主相愛，他們兩個人的愛情得到了秦王國的國王的祝福，他們兩個人後來結了婚。
蕭史與弄玉結婚之後就教導弄玉吹簫，弄玉非常有音樂天分而且每天勤奮地練習，過了幾年之後，弄玉吹簫的技巧已經跟蕭史差不多，弄玉吹的簫聲吸引鳳凰前來，有一隻非常稀少且珍貴的鳳凰飛到了蕭史與弄玉的家中並且長時間地停留在他家的屋頂上。
由於鳳凰這種鳥非常的稀有，鳳凰若出現在一個國家，在當時的人們就會認為這代表著這個國家會發展得非常繁榮並且受到神靈的庇佑，秦王國的國王聽到有一隻鳳凰停留在蕭史與他的女兒家的屋頂上的這個消息之後，他就做了一個決定。
國王建造一座非常高大的樓台，他對蕭史與弄玉說。
我將這座高台送給你們，你們搬進去後，我認為那隻鳳凰也會隨著你們搬到那座高台的屋頂上，我認為我的這項行動可以讓我們的王國變得更加尊貴與榮耀。
蕭史與弄玉搬到這座高台居住後，蕭史將自己修練成為神仙的方式分享給弄玉，隨著修練的程度愈來愈高，弄玉的身體開始發生了一些變化，她變成不需要吃飯也不需要喝水。
他們夫妻兩個人連續好幾年住在這座高台上，他們過著一種離開人群們的簡單的生活。
有一天，蕭史與弄玉對秦王國的國王說，我們兩個人要去一個只有神仙才能去的地方，我們從今天開始就要離開，我們之後不會再回來。
弄玉說完這些話她流著眼淚最後一次跟國王擁抱。
當天下午，那隻鳳凰飛離了這座位於秦王國的高樓之後，蕭史與弄玉兩個人也跟著那隻鳳凰就一起飛上天空，從那一天開始就再也沒有人看到過蕭史與弄玉。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是那隻鳳凰飛離了這座位於秦國的高樓。
這句成語被引申用來形容情人的離開。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
你是否相信人可以透過修練成為神仙呢?你相信鳳凰這種生物的存在嗎?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為-漢-列仙傳-蕭史
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E5%88%97%E4%BB%99%E5%82%B3#%E8%95%AD%E5%8F%B2
出處為太平廣記-卷4-神仙4
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%A4%AA%E5%B9%B3%E5%BB%A3%E8%A8%98/%E5%8D%B7%E7%AC%AC004