📖 Meaning
The ancient sages and worthies—figures from antiquity revered for their supreme virtue, wisdom, talent, and moral character. '圣' refers to those of the highest virtue and wisdom, while '贤' denotes those of outstanding ability and moral integrity. Together the phrase evokes the revered moral and intellectual exemplars of Chinese tradition.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom is attested in Chapter 118 of 'Dream of the Red Chamber' (红楼梦) by Cao Xueqin of the Qing Dynasty, where a character remarks, 'The ancient sages and worthies that Second Grandmother just spoke of—we don't understand them.' The term fuses two longstanding Confucian ideals: '圣' (sage), denoting one of supreme virtue and wisdom, and '贤' (worthy), denoting one of distinguished talent and moral conduct. Throughout Chinese intellectual history, figures such as Yao, Shun, Confucius, and Mencius were honored as 古圣先贤, serving as moral exemplars whose teachings guided personal cultivation and governance. The phrase embodies the deep Confucian reverence for the wisdom and virtue of antiquity.
💡 Example Usage
研读经典，方能体会古圣先贤的用心。
Only by studying the classics can one come to appreciate the intentions of the ancient sages and worthies.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 古圣先贤
- Pinyin: gǔ shèng xiān xián
- Literal Translation: ancient, sage, former, worthy
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4