Bamboo on the Mind 胸有成竹

The Chinese expression 胸有成竹 (xiong1 you3 cheng2 zhu2)literally means have grown an image of bamboo in one's mind. The idiom was first used in the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1126) to praise the exceptional artistry of the bamboo paintings created by Wen Yu-ke (文与可). However, today it is used to describe (in favourable terms) people who prepare a well-thought out plan before they embark upon a particular course of action.

Wen loved bamboo. So much so that he planted groves of bamboo all around his house. During his spare time he would spend wandering in his bamboo garden studying the shape, nuance of colour and detailed lines of the plants. After doing thisyear in, year out he became so accustomed to the details of the plants that they became etched into his mind. These images in his mind's eye were so vivid that Wen could paint pictures that looked like real bamboo even though he painted them in his study without directly observing any plants.

Wen's impressive art works became sowell-known that scholars, government officials and rich merchants came from far and wide to see them. Also, other artists came to visit Wen seeking to gain some insight into his trade secrets. Although they meticulously observed his technique, they could not fathom how he could achieve such perfect representations of bamboo without actually looking at any bamboo plants. So they turned to Wen's close friend, poet Chao Buzhi, for advice. Chao told them:

If you want to paint bamboo like Wen, you must have grown bamboo in your mind before you unfold the paper and pick up the brush.

I am sure there is an equivalent English idiom, yet I cannot think of it. You could say, it ison the tip of my tongue. If you can help, please contact me.