tiên hiền
Definition
- Noun:
- Ancient sage / Worthy of antiquity: A person of great wisdom, virtue, and moral integrity from a previous era or generation, often revered as a model of exemplary conduct and thought.
- Former virtuous person: Specifically refers to the virtuous and learned individuals of the past who are considered pioneers or founders of a tradition, school of thought, or moral code.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Chúng ta nên học theo gương của các tiên hiền. (We should learn from the examples of the ancient sages.)
- Đền thờ này được xây để tưởng nhớ công ơn các tiên hiền. (This temple was built to commemorate the contributions of the former worthies.)
- Tư tưởng của tiên hiền vẫn còn giá trị đến ngày nay. (The thoughts of the ancient wise men still hold value today.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in formal, academic, or reverential contexts related to Confucianism, traditional scholarship, and the veneration of ancestral teachers and moral exemplars.
- It can be used collectively to refer to a group or lineage of revered predecessors.
Variants and Related Words
Tiền nhân (n): Forefathers, ancestors. This is a broader term that includes "tiên hiền" but can refer to any predecessors, not necessarily only the virtuous or wise.
- Tiền nhân đã có công khai phá vùng đất này. (Our forefathers contributed to pioneering this land.)
Hiền triết (n): Sage, philosopher. A more general term for a wise person, not necessarily from the distant past.
- Ông ấy được coi là một hiền triết đương thời. (He is considered a contemporary sage.)
Synonyms
- Ancient sage: A profoundly wise man of ancient times.
- Worthy of old: A virtuous person from former times.
- Moral exemplar: A person regarded as a perfect model of virtue.
Related Concepts
- Tôn sư trọng đạo: (Vietnamese idiom) "Respect the teacher, revere the way." This principle underscores the cultural context in which "tiên hiền" are venerated as the original teachers of moral and scholarly traditions.
- Tiên hiền are often contrasted with hậu hiền (later or subsequent worthies), referring to virtuous individuals who came after and continued the legacy.