紫气东来

Pronunciation: zǐ qì dōng lái Literal meaning: Purple vapour comes from the east

Origin & Usage

紫 is 'purple', 气 is 'vapour' or 'energy', and 东来 is 'coming from the east'. It refers to the legend of Laozi leaving China through the Hangu Pass. The Records of the Grand Historian (《史记》) says only that the pass keeper Yin Xi (尹喜) asked Laozi to write a book before he left, and the received Biographies of Immortals (《列仙传》) says Yin Xi 'saw his qi first'. The purple colour comes in the Tang commentary 《史记索隐》, which quotes a version of the Biographies: Yin Xi 'saw purple qi floating over the pass, and Laozi indeed came riding a black ox' (望见有紫气浮关，而老子果乘青牛而过也). Purple qi became a sign that something auspicious, or someone remarkable, is arriving. It is a classic door inscription and Spring Festival couplet phrase, and works as a written New Year wish for a home or business.

Examples

English: "Above the shop door hung a red banner announcing that auspicious purple clouds were arriving from the east."

Chinese: 新春佳节，门楣上贴着“紫气东来”四个大字。