諺語 · a single proverb
內聖外王
Simplified: 内圣外王
What does 內聖外王 (nèi shèng wài wáng) mean?
內聖外王 (nèi shèng wài wáng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "inner sage, outer king." In use it means: Cultivate inner virtue to govern outward; internal sagely wisdom expressed as external leadership. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dragon.
Literally: "inner sage, outer king."
The reading
The governance of the world begins with the governance of the self, and the outer kingdom is only as stable as the inner one. To lead others while the interior is in disorder is to build a structure whose foundation depends on the luck of those who don't look too closely at the ground floor. Sage inwardly first.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Zhuangzi 莊子·天下 (Tiān Xià, Under Heaven chapter)
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 Humility & Self-Mastery, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dragon, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 內聖外王 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 內聖外王 (nèi shèng wài wáng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Zhuangzi 莊子·天下 (Tiān Xià, Under Heaven chapter). 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 內聖外王?
In Mandarin it is nèi shèng wài wáng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 內聖外王 aloud in Mandarin.