消しょう長ちょう盛せい衰すい

Meanings

rise and fall; ebb and flow; vicissitudes

A formal, somewhat literary compound describing the cyclical waxing and waning of things, such as fortunes, power, or natural phenomena. Often used in historical or philosophical contexts.

歴れき史しは国こっ家かの消しょう長ちょう盛せい衰すいの繰くり返かえしである。
History is a repetition of the rise and fall of nations.
この地ち域いきの経けい済ざいは消しょう長ちょう盛せい衰すいを繰くり返かえしてきた。
The economy of this region has repeatedly experienced booms and busts.

Kanji

消extinguish, blow out, turn off
長long, leader, superior
盛boom, prosper, copulate
衰decline, wane, weaken

Related words

栄えい枯こ盛せい衰すい
Very similar four-character compound meaning 'ups and downs of life' or 'vicissitudes of fortune'. 栄枯盛衰 is more common and focuses on personal or worldly fortunes, while 消長盛衰 is slightly more abstract and can apply to broader cycles.
盛せい衰すい
A shorter, more common word for 'rise and fall' or 'prosperity and decline'. 消長盛衰 is more emphatic and literary.

Built from

消しょう長ちょう+盛せい衰すい

Etymology

A yojijukugo (four-character compound) combining 消長 (waxing and waning) and 盛衰 (prosperity and decline), both of which are themselves paired opposites. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of reinforcing meaning through synonymous pairs.