Chinese Idiom: 实事求是 (Shi Shi Qiu Shi)
English Translation: Seek truth from facts.
pīn yīn: shí shì qiú shì
Idiom Meaning: This idiom signifies the approach of starting from actual circumstances to understand the inherent laws of things, guiding actions based on objective reality. It emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and factual analysis in decision-making and research.
Historical Source: From Book of Han: Biography of the King of Hejian.
Idiom Story:
During the Western Han Dynasty, Liu De, the third son of Emperor Jing of Han (Liu Qi), was granted the title of King of Hejian. Liu De had a profound interest in scholarly pursuits and approached his studies with great diligence. He actively sought out ancient texts from the pre-Qin period and gathered a wealth of historical resources. With this rich foundation of knowledge, he engaged in serious academic research and historical verification.
His dedication to scholarship earned him admiration from many intellectuals of his time. When Ban Gu was compiling the Book of Han, he wrote a special biography for Liu De titled Biography of the King of Hejian. In the introduction, Ban Gu praised Liu De’s scholarly attitude, stating: “Studying ancient texts, seeking truth from facts.” Later, the Tang dynasty scholar Yan Shigu added an annotation: “Strive for facts and always seek the truth.” This statement underscored Liu De’s commitment to serious study and his methodical approach of relying on factual evidence to draw reliable conclusions.
The essence of Liu De’s academic pursuit became encapsulated in the idiom “实事求是” (seek truth from facts), which emphasizes the value of grounding research and actions in reality. This story serves as a reminder of the importance of empirical evidence and logical reasoning in the quest for knowledge and truth.
