武ぶ陵りょう桃とう源げん

ぶ

りょ

う

と

う

げ

ん

Meanings

1

noun

earthly paradise; Shangri-La

yojijukugo (four-character idiom)›

A yojijukugo referring to an idyllic, hidden utopia, derived from the Chinese tale of the Peach Blossom Spring. Used in literary or figurative contexts.

この谷たに

は

まるで

武ぶ

陵りょう

桃とう

源げん

の

よう

な

美うつく

し

さ

だ

。

This valley is as beautiful as an earthly paradise.

Kanji

武warrior, military, chivalry
陵mausoleum, imperial tomb, mound
桃peach
源source, origin

Related words

桃とう源げん郷きょう
桃源郷 is a more common term for 'paradise on earth' or 'Shangri-La', while 武陵桃源 is a rarer, more literary yojijukugo with the same origin.

Etymology

From the Chinese tale 'Peach Blossom Spring' (桃花源記) by Tao Yuanming, where a fisherman discovers a hidden utopia in Wuling (武陵). The Japanese yojijukugo combines 武陵 (Wuling) and 桃源 (peach blossom spring).