Craftsman of the state of Lu, honoured as the patron of carpenters and builders and credited in legend with the saw and other tools. The idiom 班门弄斧 (swinging an axe at Lu Ban's door) means showing off before an expert.
Zài Lǔbān miànqián shuǎ fǔtou, nà shì bānmén-nòngfǔ.
Wielding an axe in front of Lu Ban - that's showing off in front of an expert.
Tips
history
Most of his inventions are legend. The best-known early story is in the 《墨子》: as 公输盘 he builds siege ladders, 云梯, for Chu to attack Song, and Mozi stops the war by beating him in a mock siege.
culture
Two modern things carry his name: the 鲁班锁, a puzzle of notched wooden sticks that lock together, and the 鲁班奖, China's top award for building quality, given since 1987.
