Seeking novelty without deviating from the proper way is a fundamental principle for writing and learning. In the Southern Dynasties, Liu Xie (465?-520? or 532?) affirmed the new writing styles initiated by Odes of Chu and expressed his admiration for its novel contents and new expressions, but he insisted that writings should be carefully consid…
This expression often goes with the concept “adversities reinforce a nation’s resilience.” The latter depicts a nation while the former applies to an individual. Stating that trials and tribulations can open one’s mind and stimulate the development of great wisdom, the expression reminds people to be proactive rather than reactive in the face of…
This term means to help people by practicing medicine. “Hanging a gourd” refers to the tradition of using gourd containing medications as a sign for those practicing and selling medicines; it is used more broadly to refer to those in the medical profession. “Helping the world” means providing aid and relief to those in distress. This concept ele…