諺語 · a single proverb
清松之節
Simplified: 清松之节
What does 清松之節 (qīng sōng zhī jié) mean?
清松之節 (qīng sōng zhī jié) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "pure pine's integrity." In use it means: The integrity of the pine; moral uprightness that does not bend to circumstance. 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 Rooster.
Literally: "pure pine's integrity."
The reading
The pine does not decide to stay green when the temperature drops; it simply is what it is under all conditions. Character that holds in warmth but changes in cold was never quite character at all. The pine is not admired for its effort to remain itself but for never considering the alternative.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk metaphor (pine as symbol of integrity)
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 Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 清松之節 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 清松之節 (qīng sōng zhī jié) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk metaphor (pine as symbol of integrity). 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 清松之節?
In Mandarin it is qīng sōng zhī jié. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 清松之節 aloud in Mandarin.