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The Rich and Varied Use of Idioms in Chinese Culture (Part 2)

March 23, 2011 |   By Zhi Zhen

(Clearwisdom.net) Continued from Part 1 http://clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2011/3/12/123762.html

Daily Life, Education, and the Arts as Cultural Influences for Chinese Idioms

Chinese idioms reveal the basic contents of Chinese culture, as well as the unique psychological structure, way of thinking, aesthetic perception, and value system of the Han people (the largest ethnic group in China). They precisely and vividly describe Chinese people’s views on life, society, and other philosophical ideations.

For example,

People’s behavior in their daily lives are also reflected in the idioms. For example,

Chinese idiom stories are part of Chinese history, and every Chinese idiom carries a profound meaning. Through the refinement of history and the spreading among numerous people via word of mouth, every Chinese idiom has become deep, meaningful, clear, and concise, and it allows people to learn about Chinese history and principles.

Several examples follow:

Traditional Chinese culture pays great attention to education.

The ancient Chinese people have tied together the concepts of respecting teachers and respecting the Tao. They believed that the Tao is the truth about the cosmos and human lives, and following the Tao is the same as one’s materializing the highest value of one’s life.

The ancient Chinese people pointed out that the principle of being a teacher is about respect and nobleness. They promoted and safeguarded the principle of respecting teachers and the Tao. When the teachers are respected, students can then realize the highness of the Tao, and in this way can the principles, knowledge, and skills taught by the teachers be respected. For example,

Chinese idioms also reflect the traditional Chinese arts. A nation with a remote history must have a rich and colorful culture and arts. Chinese literature, calligraphy, painting, music, dancing, and so on are the essential parts of the Chinese national spirit and culture. The content of these arts are also inevitably reflected in the Chinese idiom. Several examples follow:

Take music as another example. The music of ancient China was very developed and had its own characteristics. Putting some of the idioms together that reflect music, one can see the contents of the traditional Chinese music.

From the idioms of “Si Zhu Guan Xian (string and wind instruments)” (丝竹管弦), “Jin (metal music instrument) Shi (musical stone) Xian Si (string instruments)” (金石弦丝), “Zhong (bells) Gu (drums) Qi (all) Ming (playing)” (钟鼓齐鸣), and others, people can identify the musical instruments played in ancient China.

Idioms like “Huang Zhong [the first of the Six Positive (Yang) Tones in the ancient Chinese Twelve Tones, being most resounding and clear] Da Lu [one of the Six Negative (Yin) Tones in the Twelve Tones]” (黄钟大吕) describes the solemn, supremely wonderful harmony of music or words.

Wu (five) Yin (tones) Liu (six) Lu (modes)” (五音六律) refers to the five tones and six modes of ancient Chinese music. Other music-related idioms have recorded the unique ancient Chinese music theory of “Twelve Tones”. The Gongdiao Theory (Theory of Modes of the Ancient Chinese Music) was thus developed.

Idioms like “Jin (extremely) Shan (good) Jin (extremely) Mei (beautiful)” (尽善尽美) refers to the consummately perfect. “Yu (residual) Yin (voice) Rao (lingering in) Liang (house beams)” (余音绕梁) means although the singing is over, the singing voice is still lingering around the beams of the house. This reflects the realms that the ancient Chinese pursued in music.

From these Chinese idioms, people can also get a systematic and complete picture of other ancient Chinese art forms and the value systems that developed based on these art forms.

Nature as a Source for Chinese Idioms

Chinese idioms contain mountains and rivers, plants, animals, and artifacts, each of which embodies the value perception and aesthetic perception in the Chinese national culture. The idioms can depict the beauty of the natural landscapes. Here are a few examples:

Pines, cypresses, plums, lotuses, and so on are endowed with symbolic meanings because of their unique characteristics. For example,

Mountains and rivers in the Chinese idioms not only convey the common meaning of geographic locations, they are also endowed with symbolic meaning. For example, Mount Tai (one of the five famous big mountains in China) is deemed high, huge, solemn, and noble by the Chinese; so it is considered the most important one of the Five Mountains. Examples of such idioms follow:

There are also many frequently used idioms that are derived from animals. For example, dragons, phoenixes, and Qilin (Chinese unicorn) are the magical and unique animals in ancient Chinese fables. They are noble, awe-inspiring, and auspicious; so they are used to symbolize auspice. The well-known idiom, “Long (dragons) Fei (fly) Feng (phoenixes) Wu (dance)” (龙飞凤舞) comes from inscriptions on the Tablets of Biao Zhong Guang by Su Shi (a famous intellectual in Song Dynasty), “Tiao River comes out of Tianmu Mountain. Dragon flies and phoenix dances, and they all gather at Lin An (a place).” “Long Fei Feng Wu” is used to describe a bold, unrestrained, majestic momentum or vivid and lively postures. “Bai (hundreds) Niao (birds) Chao (follow) Feng (phoenix)” (百鸟朝凤) comes from Book of Tang (Dynasty), “Some have said that they saw a phoenix in Haizhou City, and hundreds of birds were following it. They flew to the north toward Cangwu Mountain.” This idiom means that some one is very virtuous and highly respected by people. “Feng (phoenix) Ming (sings) Lin (that is, Qilin, a magical, auspicious animal) Chu (appears)” (凤鸣麟出) means that when a phoenix sings, Qilin appears. The idiom is used to symbolize the coming out of sagacious persons.

Gods and Heaven as a Source for Idioms

In the history of China, the ancient Chinese showed their worship of heaven and gods and their reverence for those with high virtue through casting tripods and other golden or jade utensils that were of symbolic significance. The culture of gold and jade is manifested everywhere in China. Well-known idioms include

Chinese idioms are profound in content, and they reflect the characteristics of traditional Chinese culture in a condensed and classic way. They embody the evolution of the Chinese humanistic culture over several thousands of years, enabling the traditional Chinese morality and principles to deeply take root in people’s minds. They enlighten and encourage people to respect heaven and know their fates, follow the great way, have the mindset of being “Fu (looking down) Yang (looking up) Wu (does not feel ) Kui (shamed)” (俯仰无愧) means do not feel shamed to gods and people. One should possess the lofty character of “Gao (high) Shan (mountain) Yang (looking up) Zhi, Jing Xing (wide road or righteousness and brightness) Xing Zhi” (高山仰止,景行行止) refers to a man who pursues lofty character.