返璞归真

Pronunciation: fǎn pú guī zhēn Literal meaning: Return to simplicity and truth

Origin & Usage

The idiom 返璞归真 (fǎn pú guī zhēn) originates from a story in the Warring States period, as recorded in the Western Han text 《战国策》 (Zhàn Guó Cè). It tells of a man named Bian He (卞和) who discovered a unique stone on Mount Jing (荆山). Believing it contained precious jade, he presented it to the King of Chu. However, the royal jade craftsmen dismissed it as ordinary stone, leading to Bian He being punished harshly. It was only under a later king that the stone was cut open, revealing a rare jade, later known as 和氏璧 (Hé shì bì). The idiom literally means 'return to simplicity and truth,' emphasizing the importance of seeing beyond appearances to understand the essence of things. In modern usage, it encourages a return to one's natural state or simplicity, often used to describe a lifestyle or philosophy that values authenticity over superficiality.

Examples

English: "He decided to leave the corporate world behind and embrace a simpler lifestyle."

Chinese: 他决定放弃企业生活，回归简单的生活方式。