Chinese Idiom: 得心应手 (De Xin Ying Shou)
English Translation: Heart and hands in accord
pīn yīn: dé xīn yìng shǒu
Idiom Meaning: Refers to skillful mastery of a craft or the ease with which one accomplishes tasks.
Historical Source: From “Zhuangzi” (《庄子·天道》).
Idiom Story:
One day, Duke Huan of Qi was reading in his hall. Below, a craftsman named Bian, known for his wheel-making skills, was working on a cartwheel. Noticing the duke engrossed in reading, Bian put down his tools and approached to ask, “May I ask, Your Grace, what book you are reading?”
The duke replied, “I am reading the works of the sages.”
Bian, unimpressed, retorted, “Do sages still live?”
“They passed away long ago!” said the duke.
With disdain, Bian continued, “So, what you read is merely the dross of the ancients.”
The duke, infuriated, responded, “How dare you, a mere craftsman, speak such nonsense! If your words are reasonable, I will consider them; if not, I shall not forgive you!”
Calmly, Bian replied, “Very well! Let’s take my craft of wheel-making as an example. When I chop wood to make wheels with my axe, I do it ‘not too fast and not too slow; it is what my heart thinks that my hands can create’ (meaning: I work at a pace that reflects my thoughts). This kind of skill can only be developed through practice. It is difficult to articulate with words; some principles can only be understood through personal experience. Merely relying on ancient texts is insufficient, as those are relics of the past.”
