諺語 · a single proverb
心誠則靈
Simplified: 心诚则灵
What does 心誠則靈 (xīn chéng zé líng) mean?
心誠則靈 (xīn chéng zé líng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "heart sincere then efficacious." In use it means: When the heart is sincere, prayers and efforts will be answered. 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 Pig.
Literally: "heart sincere then efficacious."
The reading
The prayer spoken with a divided heart moves nothing. The same words offered from a place of complete sincerity arrive differently and seem to land somewhere. Whether the listening is from within or without, genuine intention creates a different kind of signal than performance does. Sincerity is not a feeling but a direction of one's whole attention.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (common in religious and folk contexts)
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 Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 心誠則靈 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 心誠則靈 (xīn chéng zé líng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk proverb (common in religious and folk contexts). 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 心誠則靈?
In Mandarin it is xīn chéng zé líng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 心誠則靈 aloud in Mandarin.