📖 Meaning
To abandon superficial ornamentation and return to plain, unadorned substance. It advocates stripping away decorative excess in favor of genuine simplicity and inner purity. The phrase often applies to writing, governance, or personal conduct that prioritizes authenticity over flashy display.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from a poem by Lu Yun of the Western Jin dynasty, included in the 'Wen Xuan' anthology compiled by Xiao Tong. In the poem, Lu Yun praises the restoration of proper order, writing that the divine way reveals its plain essence, discarding ornamentation to return to simplicity. The Tang scholar Li Shan annotated the line, explaining that 'hua' refers to outward embellishment, 'zhi' to unadorned sincerity, and 'yi' to casting aside—clarifying the idiom's call to favor substance over decorative display.
💡 Example Usage
他晚年遗华反质，不再追求名利繁华。
In his later years he abandoned superficial splendor and returned to simplicity, no longer chasing fame and wealth.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 遗华反质
- Pinyin: yí huá fǎn zhì
- Literal Translation: discard splendor, return to substance
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4