Chinese Idiom: 感恩图报 (Gan En Tu Bao)
English Translation: Gratefulness and Plans for Repayment
pīn yīn: gǎn ēn tú bào
Idiom Meaning: To feel gratitude for the kindness of others and to find ways to repay it.
Historical Source: From Guwen Guanzhi (古文观止) – a collection of classic essays, specifically from the letter “To Ouyang the Gentleman” by Zeng Gong (曾巩).
Idiom Story:
Zeng Gong, whose courtesy name was Zigao, was from Jianchang, Nanfeng (present-day Nanfeng County, Jiangxi Province) during the Northern Song Dynasty. He was a student of Ouyang Xiu and is known for his orderly and meticulous writing. As one of the “Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties,” he became a Jinshi in the second year of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1057) and served in various official positions, gaining a reputation for good governance.
In his letter titled “To Ouyang the Gentleman,” Zeng Gong expressed his gratitude to Ouyang Xiu for writing an epitaph for his grandfather, Zeng Zhiyang. Ouyang Xiu had served as a local official under the title of Qijushi during the eighth year of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1048) until April of the following year. This letter, therefore, respectfully addresses Ouyang as “the Gentleman.”
Zeng Gong begins the letter by comparing the memorial inscriptions to historical records, emphasizing their unique qualities and significance. He criticizes the contemporary practice among some epitaph writers who exaggerate the virtues of the deceased for personal reasons, leading to a loss of trust and diminishing the intended educational impact of such inscriptions. He then outlines high standards for epitaph writers but acknowledges that finding such individuals is rare. Ultimately, he praises Ouyang Xiu and thanks him profusely, writing:
“However, while virtuous individuals who are also skilled writers may coexist, they are rare and may only appear once every several decades or even a couple of centuries. Truly enduring inscriptions are exceedingly rare, and encountering a genuine writer is even more challenging! Your moral character and writings are indeed what people might encounter only once in several hundred years! The words and deeds of my ancestors are notably virtuous, and I am fortunate to have had you write their stories in a fair and just manner; thus, their legacy will undoubtedly be passed down through the generations. Every scholar, upon reading the biographies of ancient figures, often weeps at the touching moments. How much more so for their descendants! And for me, Zeng Gong! I admire my ancestors’ virtues and reflect upon how their legacy could be transmitted, I cannot help but feel that your graciousness towards me is a bestowal upon my family for three generations. How should I express my gratitude and repay you?”
From this sentiment, the phrase “感恩图报” emerged, meaning to feel grateful and plan for how to repay that gratitude.
