抱瓮灌园 — “To water the garden by carrying an urn”

Q: What is the Chinese definition of 抱瓮灌园?

比喻安于拙陋的淳朴生活。

抱瓮灌园 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to water the garden by carrying an urn”. To lead a simple, rustic, and unpretentious life, often implying contentment with humble circumstances and a rejection of modern conveniences. Literally, “holding an urn to water the garden”.

Frequency

抱瓮灌园 Pronunciation and Pinyin

抱瓮灌园 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
抱	bào	8	to embrace or hold
瓮	wèng	9	large earthenware jar
灌	guàn	21	pour, irrigate, record
园	yuán	7	garden, park, or grounds

Example Sentence with 抱瓮灌园

他厌倦了都市的喧嚣，选择在乡间抱瓮灌园，享受宁静的田园生活。

Tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, he chose to lead a simple, rustic life by watering his garden with an urn in the countryside, enjoying tranquil pastoral living.

Origin and Story of 抱瓮灌园

According to legend, Confucius's disciple Zigong, while traveling from Chu back to Jin and passing through Hanyin, saw an old man repeatedly carrying an urn of water to irrigate his vegetable patch. Zigong suggested he use a mechanical well-sweep for drawing water, which would be much more efficient.

The old man refused, saying, "If one does that, one's mind will become manipulative and cunning. It's not that I don't know how to use such a device, but that I choose not to do so."