📖 Meaning
Originally referring to the descendants of King Wen of Zhou, celebrated for his virtue and civil governance. By extension, it became a general term of praise for the descendants of emperors, emphasizing noble and virtuous lineage.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'Establishing Government' (立政) chapter of the Book of Documents (尚书), where it was said that King Wen's descendants should not err in matters of justice and governance. King Wen was the founding figure of the Zhou dynasty, revered for his moral leadership and civil accomplishments. The traditional commentary by Kong explains '文子文孙' as 'the sons and grandsons of King Wen.' A later interpretation by the Qing scholar Sun Xingyan suggests it means 'descendants who preserve the civil legacy,' reading '文' as 'to preserve culture' rather than as a proper name.
💡 Example Usage
身为文子文孙，理应恪守家训，不负先祖之名。
As descendants of King Wen, they ought to abide by family precepts and not disgrace their ancestors' name.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 文子文孙
- Pinyin: wén zǐ wén sūn
- Literal Translation: civil son, civil grandson
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4