A vast expanse of barren land, laid waste by natural disaster or war; scorched earth over a wide area for thousands of miles.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Ling of Wei, on his way to Jin, spent the night by the upstream of the Pu River. In the middle of the night, he heard mysterious zither music and ordered his court musician Shi Juan to record it.
When he met Duke Ping of Jin, Shi Juan played the tune. Shi Kuang, a musician from Jin, identified it as the 'music of a ruined state,' yet Duke Ping of Jin was still eager to hear more.
When the piece was played a second time, it was accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain, which was soon followed by a severe drought. Within three years, the land became barren for thousands of miles.