Why using “TianChang” or “QianQiu” as the name of the festival
"天長地久" is a Chinese idiom that means "eternal" or "forever." It comes from Chapter 7 of Laozi (a famous Chinese text), which says: "Heaven and earth are eternal. The reason they can last forever is that they do not live for themselves, so they can keep on living forever." Nowadays, people use it to describe something that lasts a very long time.
"千秋" has several different meanings, depending on how it’s used. Here are some examples:
1. A long time, like a thousand years.
- For example, in a poem by Li Ling from the Han dynasty: "A happy meeting is hard to have again; three years feel like a thousand years."
- In Liang Gong’s Nine Admonitions: "Those who do well are a sign of great luck, lasting for a thousand years."
2. A respectful way to talk about someone’s birthday.
- For example, in Mandarin Guide, Volume 1: "Today is your respected father’s birthday, and I’ve come to wish him well."
- In Dream of the Red Chamber, Chapter 71: "Today is the old matriarch’s birthday; if the lady gets mad, people will talk."
3. A polite way to say someone has died.
- For example, in Strategies of the Warring States, Yan Strategy II: "After the empress dowager passes away, the king will give up the country, and the prince will take over."
- In Records of the Grand Historian, Volume 107: "The emperor hadn’t chosen a prince yet. While drinking, he casually said, ‘After I die, the throne will go to the King of Liang.’ The empress dowager was happy."
4. Someone’s strengths or special qualities.
- For example: "Huan is curvy, Yan is slim—each has her own charm."
- In A Short History of Civilization, Chapter 60: "Gentlemen, whether you’re remembered well or badly, each has their own legacy. Why get mixed up in this?"
- In a Qing dynasty text by Xu Ke: "Mr. Yu isn’t a worldly man; he’s old but loves learning, so he naturally has lasting qualities."
Discount Code: eternal&forever
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