世外桃源

Pinyin:?shì wài táo yuán

Translation:?An otherworldy peach blossom spring.

English equivalent:?A paradise or utopia.

Source:?Tale of?Peach Blossom Spring?by Tao Yuanming《桃花源記》

The term came from a short story written by the poet and scholar Tao Yuanming (陶淵明) around 420 AD. The story tells of a fisherman who sailed through a river in a forest made up entirely of blossoming peach trees. When he reached the end of the river, he stepped off his boat and made his way through a narrow passage. On the other side of the passage stood an idyllic village where the people live happily, peacefully, and in harmony with nature (the ideal Daoist society).

Historical Notes

Tao Yuanming?(Chinese: 陶淵明; Pinyin: Táo Yuānmíng; 365 – 427 AD), was a Chinese poet, scholar, and politician. After his voluntary withdrawal from civil service, he spent the remainder of his life as a hermit living in the countryside.