auspicious legendary grass
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
a legendary grass in ancient times symbolizing auspiciousness and good fortune
archaicAccording to ancient Chinese legend, the mingjia was said to grow one leaf each day from the 1st to the 15th of the lunar month, then shed one leaf each day from the 16th to the end, serving as a natural calendar. It appears in classical texts as an auspicious omen during the reigns of sage kings.
Chuán传
shuō说
yáo尧
shí时
míng蓂
jiá荚
shēng生
yú于
tíng庭
jiē阶
，
yǐ以
wéi为
xiáng祥
ruì瑞
。
Legend has it that during the time of Yao, mingjia grew on the courtyard steps, being regarded as an auspicious sign.
Gǔ古
jí籍
jì记
zǎi载
，
míng蓂
jiá荚
měi每
yuè月
chū初
yī一
zhì至
shí十
wǔ五
rì日
shēng生
yī一
yè叶
，
shí十
liù六
rì日
hòu后
rì日
luò落
yī一
yè叶
。
Ancient records state that mingjia grows one leaf each day from the 1st to the 15th of the month, then sheds one leaf each day after the 16th.
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Gōng宫
zhōng中
shēng生
chū出
míng蓂
jiá荚
，
bèi被
shì视
wéi为
tiān天
xià下
tài太
píng平
de的
zhēng征
zhào兆
。
The growth of mingjia in the palace was seen as a sign of peace and prosperity throughout the realm.