天花乱坠 — “Heavenly flowers falling profusely”

During the Two Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties period, Buddhism flourished, with over 30,000 temples and more than 2 million monks and nuns across the country. Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern Dynasties took the lead in worshipping Buddha, constructing many temples. He even 'sacrificed himself' to Tongtai Temple three times. He also invited the ancient Indian monk Pāramārtha to China to lecture on sutras. Pāramārtha translated numerous Indian Buddhist scriptures and cultivated many Chinese disciples.

With the availability of scriptures, the practice of lecturing on them became even more prosperous. To spread the faith among the populace, Buddhists created many legends about sutra lectures. One such legend was that Master Yun Guang's lecture on sutras moved heaven, causing heavenly flowers to fall profusely.

Later, Buddhism in China diversified into many sects, with Chan (Zen) Buddhism having the greatest influence. During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, the monk Daoyuan compiled a book titled 'Jingde Record of the Transmission of the Lamp,' which chronicled stories of Chan masters and their disciples. The book emphasized a genuine understanding of Buddhist teachings and opposed merely 'speaking in a way that makes heavenly flowers fall profusely,' implying superficial eloquence.