修身养性 xiū shēn yǎng xìng self-cultivation

Explanation

修身养性指通过自我反省和道德修养来提升自身修养，使身心达到一种完美的境界。修身是指使心灵纯洁，养性是指使本性不受损害。

Self-cultivation refers to improving one's self-cultivation through self-reflection and moral cultivation, achieving a perfect state of mind and body. Xiu Shen (cultivating oneself) means purifying the mind, while Yang Xing (cultivating one's nature) means protecting one's innate goodness from harm.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，一位名叫李白的隐士，厌倦了官场的尔虞我诈，便辞官归隐山林。他隐居在终南山脚下，过着与世无争的生活。清晨，他会在山间采摘野花，在清澈的溪流边冥想，感受大自然的宁静与祥和。夜晚，他会躺在柔软的草地上，仰望漫天繁星，体会宇宙的浩瀚与神秘。日复一日，年复一年，他潜心修身养性，他的身心得到了极大的净化与提升。他写下了许多流芳百世的诗篇，也成为了后世修身养性的典范。

huàshuō tángcháo shíqī, yī wèi míng jiào lǐ bái de yǐnshì, yànjuàn le guánchǎng de ěr yú zhà, biàn cíguān guīyǐn shānlín. tā yǐnjū zài zhōngnán shān jiǎo xià, guòzhe yǔ shì wú zhēng de shēnghuó. qīngchén, tā huì zài shān jiān cǎizhāi yěhuā, zài qīngchè de xīliú biān míngxiǎng, gǎnshòu dàzìrán de níngjìng yǔ xiánghé. yèwǎn, tā huì tǎng zài ruǎnruǎn de cǎodì shang, yǎngwàng màntiān fánxīng, tǐhuì yǔzhòu de hàohàn yǔ shénmì. rìfù yīrì, niánfù yīnián, tā qiánshēn xiūshēnyǎngxìng, tā de xīn shēn dédào le jí dà de jìnghuà yǔ tíshēng. tā xiě xià le xǔduō liúfāng bǎishì de shīpiān, yě chéngwéi le hòushì xiūshēnyǎngxìng de diǎnfàn.

In the Tang Dynasty, a hermit named Li Bai, tired of the intrigues of the court, resigned and returned to the mountains. He lived at the foot of Mount Zhongnan, living a life free from worldly disputes. In the mornings, he would gather wildflowers in the mountains, meditate by clear streams, and feel the tranquility and harmony of nature. At night, he would lie on soft grass, look up at the countless stars, and experience the vastness and mystery of the universe. Day after day, year after year, he devoted himself to self-cultivation, his mind and body greatly purified and elevated. He wrote many immortal poems and became a model of self-cultivation for later generations.

Usage

修身养性多用于形容一个人注重自身道德修养和身心健康，过着恬静的生活。

xiūshēnyǎngxìng duō yòng yú xiáoróng yī gè rén zhòngshì zìshēn dàodé xiūyǎng hé xīnshēn jiànkāng, guòzhe tiánjìng de shēnghuó.

Self-cultivation is often used to describe someone who pays attention to their moral self-cultivation and physical and mental health, and lives a tranquil life.

Examples

• 退休后，他致力于修身养性，过着平静的生活。

  tuixiuhou, ta zhumiyú xiūshēnyǎngxìng, guòzhe píngjìng de shēnghuó.

  After retirement, he devoted himself to self-cultivation and lived a peaceful life.

• 为了更好地应对挑战，他开始学习修身养性，提升自身素质。

  wèile gèng hǎo de yìngduì tiǎozhàn, tā kāishǐ xuéxí xiūshēnyǎngxìng, tíshēn zìshēn sùzhì.

  In order to better cope with challenges, he began to learn self-cultivation and improve his personal qualities.

• 在喧嚣的都市中，保持一颗平静的心，修身养性，才能获得内心的安宁。

  zài xuānxāo de dūshì zhōng, bǎochí yī kē píngjìng de xīn, xiūshēnyǎngxìng, cáinéng huòdé nèixīn de ānníng

  In the hustle and bustle of the city, maintaining a calm mind and practicing self-cultivation can bring inner peace

Related Idioms

• 内省

• 自律

• 道德

Opposite Idioms

• 放纵

• 堕落