📖 Meaning
Originally referring to cultivating literary education and establishing trustworthiness, this idiom later came to mean that one's writing should express genuine intentions rather than vain ornamentation. It emphasizes the importance of sincerity and honesty in literary expression.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Book of Changes (周易), specifically the commentary on the Qian hexagram, which states: 'Cultivate one's words and establish sincerity, thereby dwelling in one's work.' The Tang dynasty scholar Kong Yingda explained that 辞 (cí) refers to cultural education and 诚 (chéng) refers to honesty—cultivating literary education outwardly while establishing sincerity inwardly, so that inner and outer complement each other to achieve worthy accomplishments.
💡 Example Usage
为文当脩辞立诚，不可徒事浮华以欺世。
In writing, one should cultivate sincerity in expression; one must not merely pursue ornamental flourish to deceive the world.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 脩辞立诚
- Pinyin: xiū cí lì chéng
- Literal Translation: cultivate, words, establish, sincerity
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4