fleeting nature of riches and honor
A yojijukugo derived from a Chinese story about a dream of prosperity that ends when the millet is cooked, symbolizing the transience of worldly success.
The phrase 'a dream of yellow millet cooking' expresses the fleeting nature of life's glories.
Also refers to the fleeting nature of worldly success, from the same Chinese story; 黄粱一炊 emphasizes the brevity of the dream (the time it takes to cook millet).
From the Chinese idiom 黃粱一炊夢, based on a Tang tale in which a lifetime of worldly success is dreamed while yellow millet cooks.