Meaning: A dream of the Nán Kē County (南柯郡)
Usage: Mostly used as an adjective to describe a situation or event as an illusion or dream.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) who enjoyed drinking very much. One day, he over drank at a party and fell asleep under a pagoda tree, or Huái Shù (槐樹) in Mandarin Chinese. While he was sleeping, he heard someone calling his name, so he woke up and found two men standing by him.
These men alleged themselves to be representatives from Huái Ān kingdom (槐安國 / 国) in search of scholars and wise men to serve as officials for their king. Although Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) never heard of this kingdom, he decided to take the chance and followed these men to their country.
Once arrived, Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) took the imperial exam and came out first place, so the king of Huái Ān (槐安國王 / 国王) appointed him the governor of Nán Kē County (南柯郡)in the kingdom. The king even ordered a marriage between Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) and the princess. So Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) settled down in the kingdom for a successful and happy life as the Nán Kē governor (南柯郡守).
Not long after, however, the kingdom was invaded by an army from another country, and no one in the Huái Ān kingdom (槐安國 / 国) could defeat them. The king then thought of Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) and appointed him as the general to expel the intruders.
As a scholar, Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) knew nothing of fighting wars. After several lost battles, the king became furious with Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) and ordered an ouster upon him.
At the gate of the imperial court, Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) was so depressed that he bellowed an angry cry, and at this moment, he found himself back under the pagoda tree, or Huái Shù (槐樹), still bearing a hangover from too much drinks.
Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) realized that everything about him being the governor of Nán Kē (南柯郡守) in the Huái Ān kingdom (槐安國 / 国) was only a dream. Nonetheless, he started to see fame and fortune as a delusion ever since.