諺語 · a single proverb
心正不怕影子斜
What does 心正不怕影子斜 (xīn zhèng bù pà yǐng zi xié) mean?
心正不怕影子斜 (xīn zhèng bù pà yǐng zi xié) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "heart upright not fear shadow crooked." In use it means: A clear conscience fears no accusation; the honest need not fear appearances. 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 Dog.
Literally: "heart upright not fear shadow crooked."
The reading
The shadow is always slightly distorted by the angle of the light, but the body that casts it knows what it is and does not confuse itself with its shadow. A clean conscience is not innocence from all imperfection but alignment between what one is and what one does. Those who live in that alignment step into any light without flinching.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (suyu)
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 Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 心正不怕影子斜 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 心正不怕影子斜 (xīn zhèng bù pà yǐng zi xié) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk proverb (suyu). 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 心正不怕影子斜?
In Mandarin it is xīn zhèng bù pà yǐng zi xié. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 心正不怕影子斜 aloud in Mandarin.