Meaning: A broken mirror is reunited
Usage: Mostly used as an adjective to describe a separated couple being reunited.
In the Era of Southern and Northern Dynasties (魏晉南北朝 / 魏晋南北朝 A.D. 420-588), there was a small and frail kingdom named Chén (陳國 / 陈国)in the southern part of China. In this kingdom was a beautiful princess who was happily married to a scholar named Xú Dé Yán (徐德言).
Foreseeing the annihilation of their kingdom, Xú Dé Yán (徐德言) said to his wife: We might be separated in the chaos once our country is eradicated, so let’s find something to keep as a token of our love. If we are lucky enough to survive the turmoil, we may use this token to find each other.
Xú Dé Yán (徐德言) and the princess then broke a copper mirror into two pieces and each person took a piece. The princess promised to send her half of the mirror to the market for sale on the 15th of January after the eradication so her husband can find her if they were ever parted.
This loving couple was finally separated in the war, and the princess was taken by a powerful warlord for her beauty and talents. On the 15th of January, Xú Dé Yán (徐德言) wondered to the market, trying to find his wife. Instead, he found a servant-looking old man selling a half copper mirror. Xú Dé Yán (徐德言) therefore invited this old man home and gave him the other half of the mirror with a poem written in the back.
The old servant brought the two pieces of mirror back to the princess, and the princess became so sad that she could not stop crying. Her cry finally startled the warlord. Yet, rather than being enraged or jealous, the warlord was actually quite moved after hearing the story of this devoted couple, so he released the princess and allowed her to reunite with her husband.