諺語 · a single proverb
立德立功立言
What does 立德立功立言 (lì dé lì gōng lì yán) mean?
立德立功立言 (lì dé lì gōng lì yán) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "establish virtue, establish merit, establish words." In use it means: The three immortalities: leave a legacy of virtue, great deeds, and wise writings. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dragon.
Literally: "establish virtue, establish merit, establish words."
The reading
Three things survive the person: what they were, what they did, and what they said that was worth repeating. The life that manages all three has nothing to mourn at its ending, having invested itself in forms that outlast the body. Not all three are equally available to every person, but at least one is available to everyone.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Zuozhuan 左傳·襄公二十四年 (Xiāng Gōng Year 24)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dragon, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 立德立功立言 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 立德立功立言 (lì dé lì gōng lì yán) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Zuozhuan 左傳·襄公二十四年 (Xiāng Gōng Year 24). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 立德立功立言?
In Mandarin it is lì dé lì gōng lì yán. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 立德立功立言 aloud in Mandarin.