Oath as deep as the sea, vow as firm as the mountain.
📜 Origin
《玉台新咏》
💡 Detailed Explanation
"Haishi Shanmeng" (a sea-and-mountain oath) literally means an oath and covenant sworn by invoking the sea and the mountains as witnesses. The depth of the sea and the firmness of the mountains symbolize a vow as deep as the ocean and as unshakable as a high mountain. This idiom describes the vows made when a man and a woman fall in love, expressing that their love should be as eternal and unchanging as the mountains and the sea. It is often used in romantic contexts to express a pledge of unwavering loyalty in love. In terms of cultural background, ancient China often called upon natural scenery as witnesses to oaths, such as "swearing by heaven" and "cutting the arm to make a covenant," while "Haishi Shanmeng" is more poetic, blending emotion with the grandeur of nature and reflecting the ancients' longing for steadfast love. In emotional tone, it carries a sense of solemnity, deep affection, and romance, but may also imply a hidden worry about whether such vows can be fulfilled. In modern usage, it can describe a sincere promise of love, and can also be used to tease vows made too lightly.
📝 Example
1. They made a solemn pledge by the sea, vowing to stay together for better or for worse in this life. (Meaning: a firm and eternal vow between a man and a woman.)
2. Those solemn pledges made in the heat of romance have long since vanished with the wind. (Meaning: a metaphor for the promises of love once made.)