May 17th, 2012
惊弓之鸟—Jīng Gōng Zhī Niăo
Share|A Bird Startled by a Bowshot Startled or frightened by the reappearance a danger one has encountered before Geng Lei was a famously talented archer in the state of Wei during the Warring States Period. One day he accompanied the king of Wei out to the field on a hunting expedition. As they were waiting, [...]
Apr 26th, 2012
老马识途 — Lăo Mă Shì Tú
Share|Old Horses Know the Way When experienced people encounter challenges they can still accomplish their purposes. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the northern kingdom of Rong often infringed on the borders of the Kingdom of Yan. The king of Yan asked the state of Qi for help. In 663 B.C. Duke Huan of Qi [...]
Apr 15th, 2012
狗尾续貂 — Gŏu Wěi Xù Diāo
Share|Dog Tails Stretch the Supply of Marten Tails To replace a high quality good or matter with an obviously inferior one After Sima Yan, who had ruled as Emperor Wu of Jin, died his son Sima Zhong acceded to the throne as Emperor Hui. Emperor Hui had no understanding of politics and most of the [...]
Apr 11th, 2012
道听途说 — Dào Tīng Tú Shuō
Share|Heard in the Paths and Spoken in the Ways What you hear spread around in the streets is always gossip without foundation Aizi was a famous scholar in the kingdom of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. His neighbor Mao Kong was ignorant and incompetent knave with an air of self-importance. Mao Kong considered [...]
Mar 17th, 2012
坚壁清野 — Jiān Bì Qīng Yě
Share|Harden the Walls and Clear the Fields To fortify a stronghold and remove the people, livestock, valuables, food, houses, trees, etc. from the area in preparation for a battle Towards the end of the East Han Dynasty, when Cao Cao was trying to put down the Yellow Turban rebellion, he occupied Yanzhou and intended to [...]
Mar 14th, 2012
杯弓蛇影 — Bēi Gōng Shé Yĭng
Share|Cup Bow Snake Reflection To suspect everyone; to be too easily alarmed. During the Western Jin Dynasty, a man named Yue Guang invited a friend to his house to drink with him. Unexpectedly, the man became ill as soon as he returned home. When Yue Guang heard this he hurried to his friend’s house to [...]
Mar 9th, 2012
熟能生巧 — Shú Néng Shēng Qiăo
Share|Familiarity Can Create Skill No matter what you have to do, just practice hard and you will find the trick of the task During the Northern Song Dynasty there lived a man named Chen Yaozi who was extremely skilled at archery. In all the places he had lived there was no one who could outshoot [...]
Feb 29th, 2012
流言飞语 — Liú Yán Fēi Yŭ
Share|Flowing Words and Flying Language Discussing a matter behind the back of the person concerned, slandering and vilifying him, in order to remove him from a position or distance others from him. During the Western Han Dynasty, in order to pacify the armed rebellion led by King Wu of Bi, the Empress Dowager Dou’s nephew [...]
Jan 18th, 2012
脍炙人口 — Kuài Zhì Rén Kǒu
Share|Roast Pork in People’s Mouths A thing, event, or piece of work that pleases everyone Zeng Shen was one of Confucius’s disciples. His family was desperately poor, and in order to earn money to take care of his parents he often went into the mountains to chop wood. Then he would carry it on his [...]
Jan 16th, 2012
东窗事发 — Dōng Chuáng Shì Fā
Share|East Window Event Discovered Plots will always be exposed, and secrets will always be discovered Yue Fei was one of the famous military leaders who fought against the Jin Dynasty during the Southern Song Dynasty. At one point he led the army to reclaim a large amount of territory that had been taken over by [...]
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