人生无常
Rén shēng wú cháng
"Life is impermanent"
Character Analysis
Human life (人生) has no (无) permanence/constancy (常). The character 常 means constant, eternal, or unchanging.
Meaning & Significance
This Buddhist-influenced proverb reminds us that nothing in life is permanent—not joy, not sorrow, not youth, not life itself. Rather than causing despair, this understanding can lead to appreciation of the present moment and acceptance of change.
This profound expression captures a central teaching of Buddhism that has deeply influenced Chinese culture: all things are transient, and clinging to permanence causes suffering.
Buddhist Origins
The concept of impermanence (无常, anicca in Sanskrit) is one of the Three Marks of Existence in Buddhism:
- Impermanence (无常) - All things change
- Suffering (苦) - Attachment to impermanent things causes suffering
- Non-self (无我) - Nothing has an eternal, unchanging essence
Usage Examples
Accepting loss:
“人生无常，我们要珍惜当下。” “Life is impermanent—we must cherish the present moment.”
After unexpected news:
“听到这个消息，我深感人生无常。” “Hearing this news, I deeply feel the impermanence of life.”
Philosophical Perspective
Rather than being pessimistic, this proverb encourages:
- Gratitude: Appreciating what we have while we have it
- Non-attachment: Not clinging to things that must change
- Presence: Living fully in each moment
- Equanimity: Accepting both joy and sorrow as temporary
Modern Applications
This saying is frequently invoked when:
- Someone dies unexpectedly
- Major life changes occur
- Reflecting on the passage of time
- Discussing the importance of living fully
Cultural Impact
The awareness of impermanence has deeply influenced Chinese arts:
- Poetry: Celebrating fleeting beauty (like cherry blossoms)
- Painting: Capturing transient moments in nature
- Tea ceremony: Appreciating the unique, unrepeatable moment
Related Sayings
- 世事无常 (Shì shì wú cháng) - “Worldly affairs are impermanent”
- 人生如朝露 (Rén shēng rú zhāo lù) - “Life is like morning dew”
- 白驹过隙 (Bái jū guò xì) - “A white horse passes a crevice” (time passes quickly)
Related Proverbs
一寸光阴一寸金
Yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn
"An inch of time is worth an inch of gold"
塞翁失马，焉知非福
Sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú
"When the old man from the frontier lost his horse, how could he know it was not a blessing?"
死有重于泰山，或轻于鸿毛
Sǐ yǒu zhòng yú Tài Shān, huò qīng yú hóng máo
"Death may be heavier than Mount Tai, or lighter than a goose feather"