黍秀宫庭 — “To lament the desolation of former palaces and temples”

黍秀宫庭 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to lament the desolation of former palaces and temples”. Symbolizing the ruin of a dynasty or the passing of former grandeur. It conveys a deep sense of sorrow over decay and loss. Literally, “Millet grows tall in the palace courtyard”.

Frequency

黍秀宫庭 Pronunciation and Pinyin

黍秀宫庭 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
黍	shǔ	12	broomcorn millet
秀	xiù	7	outstanding, elegant, show
宫	gōng	9	palace
庭	tíng	10	courtyard, court, hall

Example Sentence with 黍秀宫庭

漫步于这片遗址，看着残垣断壁，不禁让人想起“黍秀宫庭”的悲凉，感叹岁月的无情

Strolling through these ruins, gazing at the crumbling walls, one cannot help but recall the melancholic image of “millet growing tall in the palace courtyard” and lament the ruthlessness of time.

Origin and Story of 黍秀宫庭

Legend has it that after the fall of the Western Zhou Dynasty, a high official of Zhou traveled a long distance to the former capital. Seeing the ancestral temples and palaces of the past turned into fields overgrown with millet, he was deeply moved and saddened by the sight, composing the "Shu Li" (Millet) poem.

Later, when Weizi (a descendant of the Shang dynasty) paid homage to King Wu of Zhou, he passed by the ruins of Yin (the Shang capital). Seeing the palaces destroyed and covered with tall millet, he was extremely sorrowful and composed the "Mai Xiu" (Wheat Sprout) song.