📖 Meaning
Originally referring to handling parents' funeral rites with great care and reverently offering sacrifices to distant ancestors. By extension, it means to act with careful reverence and to honor the memory of those who came before, fostering a return to sincere moral character.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from the Analects (Lunyu), in the chapter 'Xue Er' (学而), where Zengzi (曾子), a prominent disciple of Confucius in the Spring and Autumn period, states: 'Carefully attend to the funeral rites of parents and reverently sacrifice to distant ancestors, and the virtue of the people will return to its proper richness.' The saying reflects the Confucian belief that ritual propriety toward the dead shapes the moral fabric of the living.
💡 Example Usage
他一生慎终追远，恪守礼法，深得族人敬重。
Throughout his life he carefully observed funeral rites and honored his ancestors, winning the deep respect of his clansmen.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 慎终追远
- Pinyin: shèn zhōng zhuī yuǎn
- Literal Translation: cautious, end, pursue, distant
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4