历尽天华成此景

歷盡天華成此景

lì jìn tiān huá chéng cǐ jǐng

quotation

Meanings

1 having passed through all of heaven's splendor, this scene was made
2 (of great works) only after countless trials and vast talent does such a sight come to be
3 (lit.) experienced to the utmost of heaven's flowers, formed this scene

Characters

历

lì

to experience / go through

尽

jìn

to exhaust / to the utmost (历尽 = to experience fully)

splendor / magnificence (天华 = heavenly splendor)

Examples

敦煌壁画历尽天华成此景，人间有味是清欢。

Dūn huáng bìhuà lìjìntiānhuáchéngcǐjǐng, rénjiān yǒu wèi shì qīng huān.

The Dunhuang murals 'passed through all of heaven's splendor to become this scene; the world's purest flavor is quiet joy.'

这个项目经历多年才完工，真是历尽天华成此景。

Zhège xiàngmù jīnglì duōnián cái wángōng, zhēnshì lìjìntiānhuáchéngcǐjǐng.

This project took many years to finish — truly 'passing through all heaven's splendor to arrive at this scene.'

Tips

history

Modern couplet popularized by writer-scholar 王国维 and widely circulated online as a two-line inscription: 历尽天华成此景，人间有味是清欢 (Having passed through all of heaven's splendor, this scene was made; the purest flavor on earth is quiet joy). The second line is from 苏轼《浣溪沙·细雨斜风作晓寒》(Su Shi, Song): 人间有味是清欢. The first line, though modern, has become a near-standard companion, printed in calligraphy and on souvenir goods.

usage

Note: the first line itself has no single ancient source — it is a modern creation paired with Su Shi's line. Quoted as praise for any hard-won beauty (restored temple, finished manuscript, mature garden). Always pairs with 人间有味是清欢.

Stroke Order

历 lì

尽 jìn

天 tiān

华 huá

成 chéng

此 cǐ

景 jǐng