Gối du tiên

Một người đàn ông nằm ngủ trên chiếc gối du tiên và mơ thấy mình đang bay giữa những đám mây.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The "Wandering Immortal" pillow: A legendary pillow, originating from a story in Chinese and Vietnamese folklore, that causes the sleeper to dream of traveling through the celestial realms or fairylands.
   • A metaphor for a blissful, escapist dream or experience: Used to describe a state of delightful fantasy, wonderful illusion, or an experience so pleasant it feels like a dream journey to the immortal world.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Truyền thuyết kể về một chiếc gối du tiên thần kỳ. (The legend tells of a magical "Wandering Immortal" pillow.)
  • Chuyến đi đó đối với tôi như một giấc mơ gối du tiên. (That trip was like a "Wandering Immortal" pillow dream to me.)
  • Đừng sống mãi trong giấc mộng gối du tiên ấy. (Don't live forever in that "Wandering Immortal" pillow dream.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in literary, poetic, or formal contexts to evoke a sense of ancient legend and transcendent beauty.
• It often carries a nuanced meaning, suggesting that the beautiful dream is temporary or illusory, hinting at a return to a less perfect reality.

Word Origin and Cultural Context

• The term originates from the Chinese phrase "遊仙枕" (yóu xiān zhěn), meaning "pillow for wandering among immortals."
• It is famously associated with a story where the Emperor Tang Ming Huang of China received such a pillow from the state of Kucha. Sleeping on it allowed him to dream of visiting the heavenly realms.
• In Vietnamese culture, it is a classical allusion found in literature, representing the power of dreams and the allure of escapism.

Synonyms

• A delightful dream: A very pleasing dream.
• A blissful illusion: A state of perfect happiness that is not based on reality.
• A fantasy journey: An imaginary, often ideal, trip experienced in the mind.

Related Idioms and Expressions

• Giấc mộng gối du tiên: A "Wandering Immortal" pillow dream. This common phrase emphasizes the dreamlike, fantastical, and temporary nature of an experience.
  • Hạnh phúc ngắn ngủi ấy chỉ là một giấc mộng gối du tiên. (That short-lived happiness was merely a "Wandering Immortal" pillow dream.)