📖 Meaning
A grand ceremonial carriage evolves from a crude wheel hammered out of wood. This idiom likens the evolution of things from primitive, rough origins to refined, elaborate forms, and is also used to honor pioneers whose humble beginnings laid the groundwork for later greatness.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the preface to the 'Wen Xuan' (Selections of Refined Literature), compiled by Xiao Tong, Crown Prince Zhaoming of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties period. Xiao Tong wrote: 'The mallet-hewn wheel is the beginning of the grand carriage; but does the grand carriage still retain the crude quality of that wheel?' This philosophical observation highlights how all sophisticated creations trace back to simple origins. The idiom was later adopted by Qing scholar Shen Weixian in his preface to 'Wan Guo Yan Yi' to praise early Chinese translators of Western geography as pioneers whose work, though imperfect, was foundational.
💡 Example Usage
他的发明虽显简陋，却有大路椎轮之功。
His invention, though crude in appearance, had the pioneering merit of the mallet-hewn wheel that precedes the grand carriage.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 大路椎轮
- Pinyin: dà lù zhuī lún
- Literal Translation: grand carriage, mallet-hewn wheel
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4