Mù wú běn bì kū; shuǐ wú yuán bì jié.

木無本必枯; 水無源必竭。

Lit Trees without roots will wither [and] waters without sources will run dry.

Fig Things go bad when they lose (contact with) their roots or basic principles.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 38; see also mù bù lí gēn above.]

Topics CHANGE Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) PRINCIPLES ROOTS SOURCES TROUBLE