Chinese Idiom: 班门弄斧 (Ban Men Nong Fu)
English Translation: Show Off One’s Ax Before Lu Ban
pīn yīn: bān mén nòng fǔ
Idiom Meaning: This idiom mocks those who show off their limited skills in front of experts, reflecting a lack of self-awareness. It can also serve as a self-deprecating remark, indicating humility in the presence of masters.
Historical Source: Poem by Mei Zhihuan from the Ming Dynasty titled 题李白墓 (Inscription on Li Bai’s Tomb).
Idiom Story:
The famous Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, known for his grand and imaginative poetry, faced a tumultuous end to his life during the An-Shi Rebellion. In his last years, he traveled to Anhui, where he sought refuge with his distant relative, Li Yangbing, who was serving as a county magistrate. Li Bai passed away at the age of sixty-two in November of that year.
Before his death, he wrote a poignant poem comparing himself to a mythical giant bird, the Dapeng. This poem reflects his struggles and aspirations, illustrating the depth of his thoughts as he faced mortality. His works remained influential long after his death.
Li Bai was buried in the Caishi area, and many years later, his tomb became a place of pilgrimage for admirers. Over fifty years after his passing, during the Yuanhe period of the Tang Dynasty, his remains were moved according to his wishes.
During the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, a scholar named Mei Zhihuan visited Li Bai’s tomb. He noticed many visitors, lacking poetic talent, attempting to impress others with their mediocre poetry. Amused by their presumption, he composed a four-line poem that highlighted their folly:
“采石江边一堆土，
李白之名高千古；
来来往往一首诗，
鲁班门前弄大斧。”
Translation: “By the Caishi bank, a mound of earth,
Li Bai’s name endures through the ages;
Countless come and go, writing their verse,
Like showing off an ax before Lu Ban.”
In this poem, Caishi is described as the burial place of Li Bai, a poet whose fame has lasted through time. Mei Zhihuan’s comparison of the visitors’ attempts at poetry to showing off an ax in front of Lu Ban (a legendary master carpenter) emphasizes the absurdity of their arrogance.
Thus, the phrase “班门弄斧” (showing off an ax before Lu Ban) emerged from Mei Zhihuan’s poem, becoming a popular idiom that captures the idea of boasting inappropriately in front of experts.
