Showing Off One's Proficiency with the Axe Before Lu Ban--班门弄斧

Lu Ban (鲁班,Lǔ Bān) (507 B.C. - 440 B.C) was a Chinese carpenter, engineer, philosopher, inventor, military thinker, statesman and contemporary of Mozi, born in the State of Lu, and is the patron Saint of Chinese builders and contractors. 


He was born in a renowned family during the Spring and Autumn Period when China was suffering from the chaos of civic wars between kingdoms.

Lu Ban was supposed to be a consummate carpenter in ancient times. It is said that he once carved a wooden phoenix that was so lifelike that it actually flew in the sky for three days. Thus it was considered the height of folly to show off one's skill with an axe in front of Lu Ban.

古代有一个建筑和雕刻技术非常高超的人，名叫鲁班，他是一个善于制作精巧器具的能手，木匠行里尊称他为祖师。传说他曾用木头制作了一只五彩斑斓的凤凰，能够在空中飞翔三天不掉下来。

谁敢在鲁班门前卖弄使用斧子的技术，也就是说，想在大行家面前显示自的本领，这种太不谦虚的可笑行为，就叫做“鲁班门前弄大斧”，简称“班门弄斧”。

这句成语有时也用作自谦之词，表示自己不敢在行家面前卖弄自己的小本领。