諺語 · a single proverb
人爭一口氣，佛爭一柱香
What does 人爭一口氣，佛爭一柱香 (rén zhēng yī kǒu qì fó zhēng yī zhù xiāng) mean?
人爭一口氣，佛爭一柱香 (rén zhēng yī kǒu qì fó zhēng yī zhù xiāng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "person contests for one breath of spirit, Buddha contests for one stick of incense." In use it means: People fight for dignity and honor; even Buddha competes for devotion-everyone has their pride. 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 Monkey.
Literally: "person contests for one breath of spirit, Buddha contests for one stick of incense."
The reading
The single breath of spirit worth fighting for is not pride in the petty sense but the refusal to be treated as less than one is. Every person has this-a core that will not be reduced without resistance-and even the most gentle and devoted practice retains its own kind of integrity. Dignity is not optional, not even for the enlightened.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk saying (common in social wisdom)
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 Courage & Decisive Action, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Ox, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 人爭一口氣，佛爭一柱香 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 人爭一口氣，佛爭一柱香 (rén zhēng yī kǒu qì fó zhēng yī zhù xiāng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk saying (common in social wisdom). 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 人爭一口氣，佛爭一柱香?
In Mandarin it is rén zhēng yī kǒu qì fó zhēng yī zhù xiāng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 人爭一口氣，佛爭一柱香 aloud in Mandarin.