興滅繼絕 xīng miè jì jué

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to restore the state and revive old families (idiom)
  2. fig. to restore sth that has been destroyed or forgotten

CHARACTERS

興 xīng thrive, prosper, flourish
滅 miè extinguish; wipe out, exterminate
繼 jì continue, maintain, carry on
絕 jué cut, sever, break off, terminate