Widely acclaimed and highly popular, especially referring to literary works, art, or ideas that are appreciated and praised by many.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
This idiom originates from "Mencius: Jinxin Xia." During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a father and son, both disciples of Confucius. The father, Zeng Zhe, had a particular fondness for sheep dates (a type of wild fruit, commonly known as 'milk persimmons').
After his father's death, his son, Zeng Can, out of filial piety, couldn't bear to eat sheep dates. This act was widely praised and circulated among Confucian disciples at the time.
During the Warring States period, Mencius's disciple Gongsun Chou was puzzled by this and sought clarification from his teacher, Mencius. Gongsun Chou asked, "Teacher, which is tastier, finely minced and roasted meat (kuàizhì) or sheep dates?" Mencius replied, "Kuàizhì, of course! There's no one who doesn't love kuàizhì!"
Gongsun Chou then asked, "If kuàizhì is so delicious, then Zeng Can and his father must have also loved it. Why then did Zeng Can abstain from sheep dates but not kuàizhì?"
Mencius explained, "Kuàizhì is something universally enjoyed. Although sheep dates are not as delicious as kuàizhì, they were something Zeng Zhe particularly loved. Therefore, Zeng Can only abstained from sheep dates. It's like how one avoids using the given name of an elder but not their surname; surnames are common to many, while a given name is unique to an individual." Mencius's words clarified the matter for Gongsun Chou.
This idiom is now used to describe things, especially literary works or poems, that are widely acclaimed and admired by many people.