The 司空 (sī kōng) is accustomed to seeing [a sight] — see notes and story
A common occurrence; commonly seen
Neutral
None
None
This is a new HSK chengyu
司空 (sī kōng) is the name of a government position in ancient China
This chengyu comes from a poem written by 刘禹锡 (Liú Yǔxī), and the poem was documented in 孟棨's (Mèng Qǐ) work 《本事诗·情感》(Běn Shì Shī Qíng Gǎn). Both lived during the Táng Dynasty (唐, 618 - 907)
刘禹锡 (Liú Yǔxī) was a government official during the Táng Dynasty (唐, 618 - 907). Because he participated in the failed Yongzhen Reforms (永贞革新, Yóng Zhēn Gé Xīn), he was driven out of the capital, and then he was eventually demoted to the provincial governor (刺史) of 苏州 (Sū Zhōu). There, he provided substantial help in the ongoing natural disasters.
While he was in 苏州, he became friends with a former 司空 named 李绅 (Lǐ Shēn). At one point, 李绅 invited him over for drinks and to watch professional singing and dancing ladies perform. After several rounds of drinks and performances, a drunken 刘禹锡 came up with some lines of poetry on the spot, claiming that it was clear his friend was rather accustomed to performing ladies, and he, 刘禹锡, was rather distressed by this. "司空见惯" was part of the poem that 刘禹锡 came up with.