大煞风景 — “To spoil a beautiful scene or a pleasant atmosphere”

The Tang Dynasty poet Li Shangyin was a very talented individual. His poems often exposed and criticized the dark realities and official corruption of his era.

In his work 'Zazuan,' he listed various actions that he considered 'greatly mar the scenery' (大煞风景).

These included 'washing one's feet in a clear spring,' 'drying underwear on flowers,' 'building a house that obstructs a mountain view,' 'burning a zither to cook a crane,' 'drinking tea while viewing flowers' (implying a mundane act that spoils the aesthetic mood), and 'shouting commands under a pine tree.'

These were all things that were considered mood-dampening or experience-spoiling at the time.