【天馬行空】a heavenly horse galloping freely in the sky

【天馬行空】 

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝), Li Yannian (李延年) was appointed as the Chief Musician.

 

He ordered Sima Xiangru and others to compose nineteen chapters of the "Songs of Suburban Sacrifices" for offerings to Heaven, Earth, and ancestral temples.

 

The tenth chapter talked about "The Heavenly Horse."

 

 Emperor Wu of Han obtained a fine horse from Ferghana in the Wowa River.(渥洼水) 

Legend says it was a descendant of the divine horse ridden by the Heavenly Emperor, hence the name "Heavenly Horse."

 

The poem describes the Heavenly Horse, bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor, galloping with a spirited and unrestrained air,

 

its speed so great it seems to fly through the sky.

 

 

This phrase, "a heavenly horse galloping freely in the sky," describes Sa Tianxi's talent and wit.

It is also used to describe something exaggerated and unrealistic.

 

Q1 horse (   )

    ➀馬 ➁牛 ➂羊 

Q2  heaven (   )

    ➀天 ➁地 ➂海 

Q3  Emperor 
    ➀兵 ➁將 ➂帝

漢武帝時以李延年為協律都尉，詔司馬相如等作〈郊祀歌〉十九章，用來祭祀天地、宗廟等，典源所收為第十章〈天馬〉。

 

根據《漢書．卷二二．禮樂志》記載，這首詩作於元狩三年，漢武帝因為在渥洼水得到一匹西域大宛所產的良馬，傳說是天帝所乘的神馬子孫，而取名為「天馬」。

 

詩中描述天帝賜與的天馬，奔馳時一副意氣昂揚灑脫不拘的樣子，而且速度快到像在天上飛一般。

 

後來「天馬行空」這句成語就從這裡演變而出，用來比喻文才氣勢豪放不拘。多用於詩文書法方面。

 

例如明．劉廷振〈薩天錫詩集序〉：「其所以神化而超出於眾表者，殆猶天馬行空，而步驟不凡。」

 

即以「天馬行空」來形容薩天錫的才思。亦用來形容浮誇不著邊際。