諺語 · a single proverb
萬古流芳
Simplified: 万古流芳
What does 萬古流芳 (wàn gǔ liú fāng) mean?
萬古流芳 (wàn gǔ liú fāng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "a good fragrance flowing for ten thousand ages." In use it means: Leaving behind a legacy of virtue that endures forever; deeds so good they are remembered across millennia. 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 Dragon.
Literally: "a good fragrance flowing for ten thousand ages."
The reading
The body returns to earth. The fragrance remains in the air. Some lives leave a scent that lasts longer than stone: a poem, a principle, a single act of courage in the right moment. You do not need to plan for legacy. You need to live in a way that produces it naturally, the way a flower does not plan its scent but cannot help releasing it.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common literary expression; widely used in epitaphs and historical praise
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 萬古流芳 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 萬古流芳 (wàn gǔ liú fāng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common literary expression; widely used in epitaphs and historical praise. 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 萬古流芳?
In Mandarin it is wàn gǔ liú fāng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 萬古流芳 aloud in Mandarin.