慎终追远 Respect the deceased and honor the ancestors
Explanation
指慎重地办理丧事，虔诚地祭祀祖先。也指谨慎从事，追念前贤。
To carefully handle the funeral arrangements and respectfully commemorate the ancestors; also used to refer to being cautious in one's actions and remembering previous meritorious figures.
Origin Story
春秋时期，鲁国大夫曾子，为人孝顺，对父母非常敬重。曾子之母去世后，曾子遵从古礼，以极其郑重的态度办理丧事。在为母亲守孝三年期间，他衣食简朴，行为谨慎，夜不成寐，一心追念母亲的养育之恩。守孝期满之后，曾子又定期祭祀母亲和祖先，并且教育自己的后代要尊老爱幼，慎终追远，传承孝道。同时他还经常告诫自己要为人谨慎，要以先贤为榜样，在为人处世上要严于律己，时刻反省自己的行为。曾子的孝行和慎终追远的品质，感动了很多人，也成为后世人们效仿的典范。
During the Spring and Autumn Period, Zengzi, a nobleman from the state of Lu, was known for his filial piety and deep respect for his parents. After the death of his mother, Zengzi followed ancient rituals and handled the funeral with utmost solemnity. During the three-year mourning period, he lived simply and cautiously, often sleepless, constantly thinking of his mother's nurturing grace. After the mourning period, Zengzi regularly performed ancestor worship for his mother and ancestors, and educated his descendants to respect the elderly and love the young, to be careful in their actions and to honor the past. At the same time, he constantly reminded himself to be cautious in his dealings with others, to set an example from those who had come before him, to be strict with himself, and to constantly reflect on his behavior. Zengzi's filial piety and commitment to remembering the past and looking towards the future touched many people and became a model for future generations.
Usage
用于表达对祖先的怀念和对传统美德的传承。
Used to express remembrance for ancestors and the inheritance of traditional virtues.
Examples
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清明时节，我们一家前往祖坟，慎终追远，缅怀先祖。
qīng míng shí jié, wǒ men yī jiā qián wǎng zǔ fén, shèn zhōng zhuī yuǎn, miǎn huái xiān zǔ.
During the Qingming Festival, our family went to the ancestral graves to remember and honor our ancestors.
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他慎终追远，对家族历史非常了解。
tā shèn zhōng zhuī yuǎn, duì jiā zú lì shǐ fēi cháng liǎo jiě.
He is very knowledgeable about family history due to his reverence for his ancestors.