一蓑烟雨任平生

一蓑煙雨任平生
yì suō yānyǔ rèn píngshēng
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 in a single straw cape, let a life of mist and rain come as it may
  2. 2 to face life's storms with equanimity
  3. 3 (lit.) one straw raincoat, misty rain, letting life be

Examples

HSK 7-9
Tā tuìxiū hòu yǐnjū shāncūn, yìsuōyānyǔrènpíngshēng, yōuránzìdé.
After retiring, he lived quietly in a mountain village, letting life's storms pass in a straw cape - serene and content.
HSK 7-9
Miànduì fēngbō, tā xuǎnzé yìsuōyānyǔrènpíngshēng de tàidù.
Facing the turmoil, he chose the attitude of 'letting life's mist and rain wash over him in a straw cape.'

Tips

history
From Su Shi's (, Northern Song) 定风波·穿 (1082): 烟雨平生。(With bamboo staff and straw sandals, lighter than any horse, who fears? In one straw cape, let a life of mist and rain come.) Written during exile in Huangzhou after the 乌台诗案 literary inquisition, a manifesto of Zen-inflected equanimity.
usage
(suō) is a straw or palm-fibre rain cape worn by fishermen and farmers, an image of hermit simplicity. Frequently tattooed, calligraphed, or used as a screen name by people aiming for a Dao-influenced 'let it roll' stance.

Stroke Order

suō
yān
rèn
píng
shēng