Describes a scene of desolation and ruin, often implying a once prosperous and magnificent place has been devastated, abandoned, and left to decay, like an imperial palace gate marked by a brass camel now overgrown with thorns.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the Western Jin Dynasty, Suo Jing, a scholar with profound knowledge from long years of studying classics and history, was appointed as Fuma Duwei.
Under Emperor Wu of Jin, he was promoted to Shangshu Lang and then to Governor of Jiuquan. Later, under Emperor Hui of Jin, he was granted the title of Guan Nei Hou. Suo Jing possessed great foresight and predicted that the times would become unstable, and great turmoil would sweep across the land.
Upon seeing the brass camel standing by the palace gate in Luoyang, he sighed with emotion and said, "Oh, brass camel, in the future, you will lie amidst thorns."