Shū sān xiě, yú chéng lǔ, dì chéng hǔ.

書三寫, 魚成魯, 帝成虎。

Lit [If an article is] copied three times, [the character] yú [“fish”] will become lǔ [“fool-hardy”], [and the character] di [“emperor”] become hǔ [“tiger”].

Fig Mistakes are bound to appear as (ancient) writings are copied and recopied over the ages.

Note [See also zì (jīng) sān xiě below.]

Topics COPYING MISTAKES TIME WRITING