為天地立心，為生民立命，為往聖繼絕學，為萬世開太平 — Zhang Zai | Printable Wall Art

“為天地立心，為生民立命，為往聖繼絕學，為萬世開太平”
“Establish the heart-mind for Heaven and Earth; secure life for the people; continue lost teachings for past sages; build peace for all future generations.”

Words by Zhang Zai (1020-1077) — Song dynasty Neo-Confucian philosopher.

About this quote

Known as the Four Sentences of Hengqu, this classical Chinese motto outlines the ultimate purpose of an intellectual. It calls for cultivating moral awareness in the universe, helping citizens secure peaceful livelihoods, preserving essential traditional wisdom, and striving to create lasting harmony for future generations. It emphasizes personal responsibility, civic duty, and the transmission of ethical values across time.

These lines were recorded by Northern Song dynasty philosopher Zhang Zai during the eleventh century. Known as the Four Sentences, they became a defining statement of Neo-Confucian ideal governance, moral duty, and scholarly purpose.

People often display this quote in a home study or classroom to encourage dedicated learning and public purpose.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 17 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.