To be so engrossed in pleasure in a new environment that one forgets about one's original home or past difficulties; to be too happy in a new place to think of returning to the old.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei occupied the Shu region and established the state of Shu. After his death, his son Liu Shan succeeded him, also known as Liu A'dou. Liu Shan was incompetent and incapable. After the death of his capable ministers, the state of Shu was conquered by Wei in 263 AD.
After Liu Shan surrendered, King Cao Mao of Wei bestowed upon him the title of "Duke of Anle" (Duke of Peace and Joy), which came with a salary but no real power, and moved him to Xuchang, the capital of Wei. King Cao Mao himself held no real power; Sima Zhao was the true power-holder.
At a banquet, Sima Zhao deliberately arranged for performances of music and dance from the Shu region in front of Liu Shan. While Liu Shan's attendants were greatly saddened, thinking of their fallen homeland, Liu Shan, however, said to Sima Zhao: "It is joyful here; I do not miss Shu." He did not miss the state of Shu at all.
Based on this story, people derived the idiom "乐不思蜀" (happy to forget Shu).