承前启后(承前啓後)

Pronunciation: chéng qián qǐ hòu Literal meaning: Receive past, initiate future

Origin & Usage

First appearing in Song Dynasty scholarly texts, this idiom describes receiving (承) what came before (前) while initiating (启) what follows (后). It gained prominence during the Neo-Confucian revival, where thinkers sought to adapt classical wisdom to contemporary challenges. The phrase perfectly captured their mission of building new insights upon established foundations. Modern usage spans architecture to business strategy, describing successful navigation between respecting heritage and embracing progress - particularly relevant in rapidly evolving fields that must maintain connection to their roots.

When to Use

Situation: The architect's design brilliantly incorporated historical elements while introducing modern functionality

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