📖 Meaning
桑枢 refers to a door pivot made of mulberry wood, and 韦带 refers to a plain, undecorated leather belt. Together the phrase describes the humble, frugal living conditions of poor scholars in ancient China who nonetheless cultivated virtue and learning.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase draws from two classical sources. In 《庄子·让王》, Yuan Xian (原宪), a disciple of Confucius, lived in the state of Lu and used mulberry wood as his door pivot. Han dynasty scholar Jia Shan's 《至言》 mentions 'scholars in plain clothes with leather belts' (布衣韦带之士) who cultivated virtue within yet achieved fame without. The combined phrase became a metaphor for the austere yet dignified life of impoverished scholars.
💡 Example Usage
他虽桑枢韦带，却胸怀大志，终成一代名臣。
Though he lived in humble poverty, he harbored great ambitions and eventually became a renowned minister.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 桑枢韦带
- Pinyin: sāng shū wéi dài
- Literal Translation: mulberry, door pivot, leather, belt
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4