Lacking in youthful vigor or spirit; affectedly venerable or pompous; showing an air of exaggerated seniority or complacency.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the Southern Dynasties period, Kong Zhike, a refined and elegant recluse from the Qi kingdom, learned that Zhou Yanlun, who had once lived in seclusion on Mount Zhong, was appointed as the magistrate of Haiyan County.
Kong Zhike felt that Zhou Yanlun was not a true recluse and lacked the integrity and ambition of ancient recluses like Chaofu and Xuyou.
Therefore, Kong Zhike composed "A Letter to North Mountain" (《北山移文》), which included the line: "Romantic sentiments spread with the sun, and frosty air pervades autumn" ("风情张日，霜气横秋。").
The idiom "老气横秋" (lǎo qì héng qiū) later evolved from the imagery of "霜气横秋" (frosty air pervading autumn), coming to describe a person who lacks youthful vitality or displays an air of affected seniority and complacency.