Mount Penglai; Penglai Island; enchanted land of perpetual youth
In Chinese mythology, a legendary island-mountain where immortals live and youth never fades. Often used metaphorically for an idyllic, unattainable paradise.
Penglai is a legendary land of immortals in Chinese mythology.
He likened this garden to Penglai.
sacred mountain; holy peak
Used poetically for mountains considered sacred or paradise-like, especially Mount Fuji and Mount Kumano. Often appears in the compound 三蓬莱 (three sacred mountains).
See also: 三蓬莱
Mount Fuji has been regarded as one of the sacred mountains since ancient times.
Abbreviation of 蓬莱飾り. A traditional New Year decoration in the Kansai region, made from food items like kelp and dried persimmons, symbolizing good fortune and longevity.
See also: 蓬莱飾り
In Kansai, there is a custom of displaying a Penglai decoration in the alcove at New Year's.
Formosa; Taiwan
Historical name for Taiwan, used in classical Chinese and old Japanese texts. Now rare and largely replaced by 台湾.
On old maps, Taiwan is sometimes labeled as Penglai.
The modern standard name for Taiwan; 蓬莱 is an archaic, literary alternative.
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
Kana spelling is acceptable, especially in explanatory contexts or when the kanji are not needed.
From Chinese 蓬萊 (Pénglái), the name of a mythical island-mountain in Taoist legend. The Japanese reading ほうらい is the on'yomi of the characters.