South of Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province stands Mount Lu, where legend says a wise man named Kuang Su built a thatched hut during the Western Zhou dynasty. King Wu of Zhou repeatedly sent envoys to summon Kuang Su to court, offering him an official post, but each time Kuang Su firmly declined. Because of his reclusive hut—"lu" in Chinese—the mountain became known as Mount Lu, a name that endures to this day.
Mount Lu rises majestically with three sides facing the river, its highest peak, Hanyang Peak, soaring over 1,400 meters. With its clear waters and stunning landscapes, Mount Lu became a premier tourist destination. Moreover, because it borders the river and is surrounded by water, the mountain is often shrouded in mist, making it difficult for people to see its true form.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, the outstanding literary giant Su Shi also visited Mount Lu and wrote a seven-character quatrain:
From different angles, the same mountain appears as a ridge or a peak.
Each Height and Distance Reveals a Different View.
The idiom "Not Knowing the True Face of Mount Lu" originates from a poem by Su Shi of the Song Dynasty, titled "Written on the Wall of West Forest Temple." The poem reads: "From the side, a ridge; from the end, a peak—far, near, high, low, each view is unique. Not knowing the true face of Mount Lu, only because you are within the mountain itself." Su Shi wrote this after visiting Mount Lu, capturing a profound insight: when you are immersed in a situation, you often cannot see its full picture. The story goes that Su Shi, a renowned poet and statesman, was traveling through the mountain with friends, marveling at its shifting landscapes. One companion remarked, "Every step changes the view—how can we grasp its true form?" Su Shi smiled and replied, "That is precisely the point. We are inside the mountain, so we see only fragments. To know its true face, we would need to step outside." This anecdote has since been used to describe how personal bias or limited perspective can obscure the truth. In modern usage, it reminds us to seek an objective viewpoint, especially when caught up in complex situations.
Only Because I Am Inside This Mountain.
The poem's essence: from the front, a towering ridge; from the side, a steep, singular peak. With varying distances and heights, it presents countless forms and majestic scenes. Why can't one see the true face of Mount Lu? Only because one is within the mountain itself.
Later, the idiom "Not Knowing the True Face of Mount Lu" came to be used as a metaphor for failing to recognize the true nature of things.
Song Dynasty poet Su Shi wrote in his poem "Written on the Wall of West Forest Temple": "From the side, a whole range; from the end, a single peak. Far, near, high, low, each gives a different view. The true face of Mount Lu I cannot see, because I myself am in the mountain." This verse captures a profound truth: when we are too close to a situation, we often fail to see its full picture.
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "不识庐山真面目" came to describe how personal bias or limited perspective can obscure the truth.