precipitous cliff of great height, metaphor for absolute nature of Buddhist truth
A Buddhist idiomatic expression (四字熟語) used to describe the absolute, unshakeable nature of truth, likened to a towering, sheer cliff. Rare in everyday language; primarily encountered in Buddhist texts or discussions.
'壁立千仞' is a phrase in Buddhism that expresses the absolute nature of truth.
壁立 means 'standing like a wall' or 'precipitous,' and is a component of the full phrase 壁立千仞.
千仞 literally means 'a thousand fathoms,' indicating great height, and is used in the phrase to emphasize the cliff's towering nature.
A four-character idiomatic compound (四字熟語) of classical Chinese origin, combining 壁立 (standing like a wall, precipitous) and 千仞 (a thousand fathoms, great height). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is used in Buddhist contexts as a metaphor for the absolute, unshakeable truth.