諺語 · a single proverb
亡國之音
Simplified: 亡国之音
What does 亡國之音 (wáng guó zhī yīn) mean?
亡國之音 (wáng guó zhī yīn) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞). Word for word it reads "the music of a falling kingdom." In use it means: Signs of decline in culture, behavior, or taste that signal a larger collapse; decadent indicators. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Snake.
Literally: "the music of a falling kingdom."
The reading
The music got sweeter as the kingdom got weaker. Nobody noticed because the melody was so pleasant. Decay does not announce itself with ugly sounds. It arrives dressed in something you enjoy, and by the time you recognize it, the walls are already soft.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Book of Rites 禮記, Yue Ji 樂記
Sits beside
冬至陽生春又來
dōng zhì yáng shēng chūn yòu lái
At the darkest moment of winter, yang energy is reborn and spring begins its return.
夜長夢多
yè cháng mèng duō
Delay leads to complications.
太公釣魚，願者上鉤
tài gōng diào yú yuàn zhě shàng gōu
The best way to attract people is not through trickery but through genuine worth.
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 Timing & Fortune's Turning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Snake, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 亡國之音 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 亡國之音 (wáng guó zhī yīn) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞), and it comes from Book of Rites 禮記, Yue Ji 樂記. 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 亡國之音?
In Mandarin it is wáng guó zhī yīn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 亡國之音 aloud in Mandarin.