諺語 · a single proverb
木板正行，影必直
What does 木板正行，影必直 (mù bǎn zhèng xíng yǐng bì zhí) mean?
木板正行，影必直 (mù bǎn zhèng xíng yǐng bì zhí) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "wooden board straight walk, shadow must be straight." In use it means: When you act upright, your reputation follows suit; proper conduct produces proper results. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Ox.
Literally: "wooden board straight walk, shadow must be straight."
The reading
The shadow cannot be independently negotiated; it faithfully follows the object that casts it. What is done in the world leaves a trace in the world of opinion, and no amount of managing the trace can substitute for tending to what casts it. The best reputation management is living a life worth its reputation.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk saying
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 Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 木板正行，影必直 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 木板正行，影必直 (mù bǎn zhèng xíng yǐng bì zhí) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk saying. 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 木板正行，影必直?
In Mandarin it is mù bǎn zhèng xíng yǐng bì zhí. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 木板正行，影必直 aloud in Mandarin.