历尽天华成此景

歷盡天華成此景

lìjìntiānhuáchéngcǐjǐng

phrase

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。

Dūnhuáng bìhuà lì jìn tiān huá chéng cǐ jǐng, 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, zhēn shì lì jìn tiān huá chéng cǐ jǐng.

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 jǐn

天 tiān

华 huá

成 chéng

此 cǐ

景 jǐng