xǔ栩xǔ栩rú如shēng生
Describing an artistic image, sculpture, or depiction that is extremely vivid and realistic, appearing as if alive.
Era:
Early Modern
Frequency:
Story:
In ancient China, the philosopher Zhuangzi once wrote in his work: 'Once, Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, a vivid and lifelike butterfly, feeling content and forgetting his true self!' This story illustrates how Zhuang Zhou, in his dream, transformed into a beautiful butterfly that was so real and animated, fluttering in the air with such delight, that he completely forgot he was a human named Zhuang Zhou.