意存筆先,畫盡意在 yì cún bǐ xiān , huà jìn yì zài

DEFINITIONS

  1. the idea is present before the first stroke of the brush, when the last stroke is placed the idea shines through

CHARACTERS

意 yì thought, idea, opinion; think
存 cún exist, live, be; survive; remain
筆 bǐ writing brush; write; stroke
先 xiān first, former, previous
畫 huà delineate, painting, picture, drawing; draw
盡 jìn exhaust, use up; deplete
意 yì thought, idea, opinion; think
在 zài be at, in, on; consist in, rest