To never forget one's origins or roots; to long for one's homeland, especially in old age, just as a fox turns its head towards its den when dying.
他虽然在异乡功成名就，但始终心系故里，这份狐死首丘的情怀令人动容。
Although he achieved great success in a foreign land, he always remained deeply connected to his hometown, and this sentiment of 'a fox dies with its head turned to its den' is truly touching.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the Warring States period, Qu Yuan was ostracized and slandered, losing the trust of the King of Chu and being banished to a distant land.
In his difficult life of exile, he composed many poems that reflected the people's wishes and the contradictions of reality. His representative works include 'Li Sao,' 'Jiu Ge,' and 'Jiu Zhang.'
In his poem 'Ai Ying,' he wrote: 'Birds fly back to their hometowns, and a fox, when dying, must turn its head towards its mound.'
Next Idiom