面朝黄土背朝天

face to the ground, back to the sky

face / side / surface / aspect / top / classifier for objects with flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors, flags etc

variant of 麵|面[mian4]

flour / noodles / (of food) soft (not crunchy) / (slang) (of a person) ineffectual / spineless

abbr. for 朝鮮|朝鲜[Chao2 xian3] Korea

imperial or royal court / government / dynasty / reign of a sovereign or emperor / court or assembly held by a sovereign or emperor / to make a pilgrimage to / facing / towards

morning

yellow / pornographic / to fall through

loess (yellow sandy soil typical of north China)

Tu (ethnic group) / surname Tu

earth / dust / clay / local / indigenous / crude opium / unsophisticated / one of the eight categories of ancient musical instruments 八音[ba1 yin1]

variant of 背[bei1]

to be burdened / to carry on the back or shoulder

the back of a body or object / to turn one's back / to hide something from / to learn by heart / to recite from memory / unlucky (slang) / hard of hearing

Chaotian district of Guangyuan city 廣元市|广元市[Guang3 yuan2 shi4], Sichuan

to have an audience with the Emperor / to be presented at court / to look skyward / to look up

day / sky / heaven