靡靡之音

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Chinese

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's; him/her/it; this sound; noise; news
trad. (靡靡之音) 靡靡
simp. #(靡靡之音) 靡靡
alternative forms 糜糜之音

Etymology

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From Han Feizi, Chapter 10 (《韓非子·十過》):

:「亡國不可。」:「?」師曠:「靡靡之紂,不可。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
:「亡国不可。」:「?」师旷:「靡靡之纣,不可。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2nd century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
Wèi zhōng, shī Kuàng fǔ zhǐ zhī, yuē: “Cǐ wángguó zhī shēng, bùkě suì yě.” Píng gōng yuē: “Cǐ dào xī chū?” Shī Kuàng yuē: “Cǐ shī Yán zhī suǒ zuò, yǔ Zhòu wéi mǐmǐ zhī yuè yě, jí Wǔ wáng fá Zhòu, shī Yán dōng zǒu, zhì yú Pú shuǐ ér zì tóu, gù wén cǐ shēng zhě bì yú Pú shuǐ zhī shàng. Xiān wén cǐ shēng zhě qí guó bì xuē, bùkě suì.” [Pinyin]
Before the performance was finished, Musician Kuang (師曠) held down his hands and stopped the music, saying, "This is a state-ruining piece of music, which should not be performed to its end." "Where does this music come from? Do you know?" asked Duke Ping. "This was composed by Musician Yen," replied Musician Kuang, "and presented to King Zhou. It was a piece of frivolous music. When King Wu attacked Zhou, Musician Yen ran eastward as far as the Pu Water, where he drowned himself. Therefore, this music has been heard only by the Pu Water. At any rate, whoever hears this music performed, is bound to see his native soil dismembered. Its performance, therefore, should not be completed."

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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靡靡之音

  1. decadent or obscene music; cheap, low-class tunes; popular music

Synonyms

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