Chinese Idiom: 善始善终 (Shan Shi Shan Zhong)
English Translation: Well begun, well done
pīn yīn: shàn shǐ shàn zhōng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to a situation where things are good from the beginning to the end, emphasizing consistency in quality throughout a process.
Historical Source: The idiom originates from Zhuangzi (《庄子》), specifically from the phrase: “善妖善老，善始善终,” which implies that both beginnings and endings are good.
Idiom Story:
Sima Qian, the author of Records of the Grand Historian (《史记》), reflected on the life of Chen Ping (陈平), an important strategist and chancellor during the early Western Han dynasty. After completing the biography of Chen Ping in The House of Chancellor Chen, Sima Qian remarked, “When Chen Ping was young, he admired the teachings of Emperor Huang and Laozi, and he already had great ambitions. Although he once wavered between the warlords Chu (Xiang Yu) and Wei (King Wei), he ultimately pledged allegiance to Liu Bang, the founder of the Han dynasty. Chen Ping frequently devised clever strategies to eliminate threats and rescue the country from peril. Even during the turbulent times under Empress Lü, he managed to avoid disaster, maintaining his honor and reputation as a virtuous chancellor. Isn’t that a perfect example of ‘善始善终’ (well begun, well done)? Without exceptional wisdom and strategy, who could achieve such a feat?”
This passage succinctly summarizes Chen Ping’s life. Born in Yangwu (present-day Yuanyang County, Henan), Chen Ping was tall and impressive in appearance. Despite his family’s poverty, he loved reading. His brother, Chen Bo, supported him in pursuing education, but their sister-in-law resented Chen Ping for not contributing to household labor, declaring, “Having such an uncle is worse than having none.” In a fit of anger, Chen Bo sent her away.
After Chen Sheng’s uprising against the Qin dynasty, Chen Ping joined King Wei but found his advice seldom valued. Disappointed, he left for Xiang Yu’s camp, but after realizing Xiang Yu’s inability to utilize talent, he returned to Liu Bang, becoming an insightful assistant to him. During the Chu-Han Contention, Chen Ping cleverly sowed discord between Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng. He advised Liu Bang to appoint Han Xin, leveraging his talents to defeat Xiang Yu. At a critical moment when Liu Bang was besieged by the Xiongnu at Pingcheng, it was again Chen Ping’s ingenuity that helped him escape.
After Liu Bang’s death, Empress Lü seized power, but following her death, Chen Ping and others eliminated her faction, restoring stability. Throughout the reigns of Emperor Hui, Empress Lü, and Emperor Wen, Chen Ping adeptly navigated various political challenges, consistently ensuring his survival and success. Thus, Sima Qian evaluated Chen Ping’s life as an exemplary case of “善始善终.”
