融会贯通(融會貫通)

Pronunciation: róng huì guàn tōng Literal meaning: Merge and flow through completely

Origin & Usage

Emerging from Buddhist meditation texts of the Tang Dynasty, this idiom describes the moment when scattered knowledge merges (融会) and flows through (贯通) one's understanding completely. The metaphor originates from the practice of metal casting, where separate elements melt and flow together to form a perfect whole. Buddhist monks used this imagery to describe the state of enlightenment when seemingly disparate teachings suddenly connect in perfect clarity. The concept gained broader application during the Song Dynasty as Neo-Confucian scholars adopted it to describe comprehensive understanding of the classics. In modern context, it describes the breakthrough moment in learning when previously disconnected pieces of knowledge suddenly form a coherent whole, particularly valued in fields requiring interdisciplinary mastery.

When to Use

Situation: After years of study, she finally understood how all the concepts connected

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