Failure Is the Mother of Success (失败为成功之母)

In Chinese culture, the idiom 失败为成功之母 (Shībài wéi chénggōng zhī mǔ)—"Failure is the mother of success"—conveys more than mere encouragement. It represents a deeply rooted belief that setbacks are not only expected but essential on the road to true achievement. In contrast to societies that stigmatize failure, traditional Chinese thought, influenced by both Confucian perseverance and Daoist acceptance of life's ebb and flow, sees failure as a necessary teacher.

It's commonly used to encourage perseverance, especially among students, entrepreneurs, and anyone facing challenges. It aligns with both Confucian values of perseverance and self-improvement, as well as Daoist and Buddhist ideas of accepting life's cycles and using difficulty as a teacher.

Zuo Zongtang. Photo from 1875Literal Breakdown

• 失败 (shībài): failure
• 为 (wéi): is/serves as
• 成功 (chénggōng): success
• 之母 (zhī mǔ): the mother of

A compelling historical example is the life of Zuo Zongtang (左宗棠), a Qing dynasty official, general, and scholar born in 1812 in Hunan Province. Like many ambitious young men of his time, Zuo aspired to official status through the imperial examination system. Yet, between his teens and mid-twenties, he failed the rigorous exams at least six or seven times... a crushing blow in a culture that emphasized scholarly success as the gateway to influence and respectability.

Rather than collapse into bitterness or obscurity, Zuo chose a different path. He withdrew to a quiet life near the Xiang River, farming and studying independently. This period of self-directed learning became the foundation of his later success. He immersed himself not only in the Confucian classics but also in military science, geography, agriculture, and even Western technology, subjects largely ignored by the mainstream scholars of his day.

When China faced massive internal upheaval during the Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864), Zuo's unusual breadth of knowledge suddenly made him indispensable. He was brought into service by Zeng Guofan and rapidly rose through military and administrative ranks. Zuo went on to lead successful campaigns to reclaim territories in western China, most notably reconquering Xinjiang from separatist forces. He later served as Viceroy of both Min-Zhe and Shaan-Gan, positions of great responsibility in the late Qing empire.

Zuo's remarkable transformation, from failed exam candidate to national hero, perfectly illustrates the truth behind the idiom shībài wéi chénggōng zhī mǔ. His failures did not close doors; they redirected his energy toward self-cultivation and practical knowledge. His eventual success arose not in spite of failure, but because of it.

This idiom has endured for centuries, quoted by educators, parents, and leaders alike. It reminds us that genuine growth often comes from difficult trials. Whether in martial arts, business, healing, or personal development, the path to mastery is rarely linear. In the rhythm of effort and setback, failure is not an endpoint... it is the womb from which success is born.

 —Qi Journal 2025