指鹿为马Call a stag a Horse

Call a stag a Horse(成语 指鹿为马 英文)


Zhao Gao(1) harboured the intention of usurping power, but he was afraid that the ministers would not follow and obey him. So, he tried to test which ones would be faithful to him.

One day he offered a stag to Emperor Ershi(2) and said,"Your Majesty, here is a horse I would like to offer to you."

"You're mistaken, Prime Minister," said the Emperor with a smile."You've called a stag a horse."

Zhao Gao turned to the other ministers present and asked them whether it was a horse or a stag. Some kept silent; other, to please Zhao Gao, affirmed that it was a horse; and still others said that it was a stag.

Later, Zhao Gao secretly framed charges against all those who had asserted that it was a stag and had them executed.

______________remark______________
(1) a eunuch in the Qin court, who after the decease of Qinshihuang(First Emperor of Qin) hounded his heir, Prince Fushu, to death and through a coup detat replaced him with Huhei,while he himself assumed the post of Prime Minister.
(2) Emperor Qin the Second, i.e., young Prince Huhei--made Emperor by Zhao Gao,wishing to usurp his power, later compelled the young emperor to commit suicide.

指鹿为马(chinese idioms)

赵高想要谋反，恐怕群臣不听从他，就先设下计谋进行试验，带来一只鹿献给二世，说：“这是一匹马。”二世笑着说：“丞相错了，把鹿说成是马。”问左右大臣，左右大臣有的沉默，有的故意迎合赵高说是马，有的说是鹿，赵高就在暗中假借法律陷害那些说是鹿的人。

指鹿为马,比喻故意颠倒黑白,混淆是非。

纸上谈兵Strategic Planning on Paper

Strategic Planning on Paper(成语 纸上谈兵 英文)


Zhao Guo(1) had had lessons in the art of war since he was very young. Therefore, in speaking of military strategy and tacties, he thought none could excel him. Once he had a discussion with his father Zhao Seh, a senior general, about the command of troops and conduct of wars. He talked in such a self-assured way that his father, though finding it impossible to refute him, distained to say a word in his praise. For this Guo's mother asked her hushand the reason.

"To fight a war entails fatal danger," answered Zhao Seh." But Guo passed it off as something easy in his talk. It would be better if our state did not appoint him as a commander.If they do, he will surely be the one to lead our troops to doom."...

In the seventh year(2) (259 BC), the army of the State of Qin drove into the State of Zhao, and their troops confronted each other at Changping(3). By that time Zhao She had passed away and Lin Xiangru was very ill, and so the King of Zhao ordered Lian Po to take command and attack Qin. Having suffered several defeats, the Zhao troops firmly held their position in the defence and stopped fighting. In spite of Qin's repeated challenges, Lian Po refused to make any move. Then Qin sent a spy to Zhao to spread a rumour, which said:"Qin has only one thing to worry about. They are afraid that Zhao Guo, son of Zhao She, might come out to command the army." The King of Zhao believed the rumour and had Lian Po replaced by Zhao Guo....

As son as Zhao Guo took the place of Lian Po he changed all the latter's orders, rules and systems, and dismissed many military officers. When General Bai Qi of Qin got this information, he started an ingenious military move. Feigning to retreat after a defeat,his troops went to sever Zhao's food supply line and cut Guo's troops in two. This put the soldiers into great trepidation. Forty days later, the soldiers weakened from hunger Zhao Guo himself went into combat with his crack troops and was shot to death by the arrows of the Qin troops.

____________remark________________
(1) of the State of Zhao during the Warring State Period(475-221 BC).
(2) the seventh year of the regin of Xiacheng Wang of Zhao(259 BC). Another version of the story says that it was the sixth year(258 BC).
(3) present-day Gaoping County, Shanxi Province.

纸上谈兵(chinese idioms)

赵括从小就学习兵法，谈论兵事，认为天下没有比得上他的。曾经和他的父亲赵奢谈论兵事，赵奢都难不倒他，但是并不称赞他。赵括的母亲问赵奢其中的原因，赵奢曰∶“打仗，是生死攸关的地方，而赵括太轻率地讨论它了。如果赵王不让他当将军就罢了，如果一定要让他当将军，他一定会使赵军遭受失败。”...

孝成王七年（前259），秦军与赵军在长平对阵，那时赵奢已死，蔺相如也已病危，赵王派廉颇率兵攻打秦军，秦军几次打败赵军，赵军坚守营垒不出战。秦军屡次挑战。廉颇置之不理。赵王听信秦军间谍散布的谣言。秦军间谍说：“秦军所厌恶忌讳的，就是怕马服君赵奢的儿子赵括来做将军。”赵王因此就以赵括为将军，取代了廉颇。蔺相如说：“大王只凭名声来任用赵括，就好像用胶把调弦的柱粘死再去弹瑟那样不知变通。赵括只会读他父亲留下的书，不懂得灵活应变。”赵王不听，还是命赵括为将。...

赵括代替廉颇（担任抗秦大将）后，全部更改（原有的）纪律和规定，撤换军官。秦将白起听到了这些事，派了变化莫测的军队，假装败退，截断了赵军运输军粮的道路，把赵国的军队一切为二，（于是）军心离散。经过四十多天，军中兵士饥饿，赵括带领精锐的兵士亲自上阵战斗。（结果）秦军射死了赵括。赵括的军队大败，数十万兵士便投降了秦国，秦国把他们全部活埋了。

纸上谈兵,比喻空谈理论,不能解决实际问题。

负荆请罪Bear a Birch to offer a Humble Apology

Bear a Birch to offer a Humble Apology （成语 负荆请罪 英文)

When Lin Xiangru returned to Zhao(1), he was made a high official ranking above Lian Po because he had rendered an outstanding service to the State.

At this, Lian Po complained to everyone:"I am a general of the State of Zhao and have rendered meritorious services on the battlefield. Now, Lin Xiangru is put in a position superior to mine for his mere eloquence. Besides, he is a man of humble birth. I can't bear to be below him, it is a disgrace." In the end he went so far as to declare:"If he comes into my sight, I'll cry shame on him." On hearing this, Xiangru decided to avoid Lian Po in every way.

When the time came for the ministers to appear at court, Xiangru always absented himself and stayed home on the pretext of ill health. This was simply to avoid contending with Lian Po for precedence at court. Later, whenever Xiangru was out driving and sighted Lian Po on the way, he would order his carriage to turn about and avoid him.

Lin's guest advisers all began to protest at his undue humility, saying:"The reason why we left our own people and came to serve you is just that we admire your noble quality. Now, you are of equal rank with Lian Po, who has been openly speaking evil of you,yet you fear him so much that you hide yourself away from him. This is more than needed and is something even the common people would feel ashamed of ,not to say a prime minister or any other ranking official. It seems we are not useful here. Please allow us to leave."

Lin,however,insisted on their staying and asked them a question:"You gentlemen please tell me who is more formid able?Lian Po? Or the King of Qin?"

"Of couse, Lian Po is not so formidable as the King of Qin," was the answer.

"Well," Lin Xiangru came to the point at issue,"despite the awesomeness of the King of Qin, I dared rebuke him in his court and bring shame on his courtiers. Incapable as I may be, I don't think I have any reason to fear General Lian. What I have been turning over in my mind is why the pewerful Qin so far dare not invade Zhao. Isn't it merely because Lian Po and I are both in the service of Zhao at court? Suppose we two 'tigers' now pitch into each other, one of us must to out of existence. That I've been treating Lian Po in the way known to you all is to show I put the safety of the state above private grievances."

When these words of Lin Xiangru were passed on to Lian Po, he was extremely moved. Stripping him self to the waist and carrying a birch on his back, he asked his guest adviser to take hime to the mansion of Lin Xiangru to offer a humble apology. Lian said to Lin,"What an ignorant man I am! I never realized how magnanimous you are." In the end , the two were on good germs and vowed to be life-and-death companions.

_____________remark_______________
(1) see the story "Return the Jade Intact to Zhao"

负荆请罪(chinese idioms)

...回国后,由于相如功劳大，被封为上卿，位在廉颇之上。廉颇说：“我是赵国将军，有攻城野战的大功，而蔺相如只不过靠能说会道立了点功，可是他的地位却在我之上，况且相如本来是卑贱之人，我感到羞耻，在他下面我难以忍受。”并且扬言说：“我遇见相如，一定要羞辱他。”相如听到后，不肯和他相会。相如每到上朝时，常常推说有病，不愿和廉颇去争位次的先后。没过多久，相如外出，远远看到廉颇，相如就掉转车子回避。

于是相如的门客就一起来直言进谏说：“我们所以离开亲人来侍奉您，就是仰慕您高尚的节义呀。如今您与廉颇官位相同，廉老先生口出恶言，而您却害怕躲避他，您怕得也太过分了，平庸的人尚且感到羞耻，何况是身为将相的人呢！我们这些人没出息，请让我们告辞吧！”蔺相如坚决地挽留他们，说：“诸位认为廉将军和秦王相比谁厉害？”回答说：“廉将军比不了秦王。”相如说：“以秦王的威势，而我却敢在朝廷上呵斥他，羞辱他的群臣，我蔺相如虽然无能，难道会怕廉将军吗？但是我想到，强秦所以不敢对赵国用兵，就是因为有我们两人在呀，如今两虎相斗，势必不能共存。我所以这样忍让，就是为了要把国家的急难摆在前面，而把个人的私怨放在后面。”

廉颇听说了这些话，就脱去上衣，露出上身，背着荆条，由宾客带引，来到蔺相如的门前请罪。他说：“我是个粗野卑贱的人，想不到将军您是如此的宽厚啊！”二人终于相互交欢和好，成为生死与共的好友。

负荆请罪,形容主动向人认错、道歉，自请严厉责罚。

完璧归赵Return the Jade Intact to Zhao

Return the Jade Intact to Zhao（成语 完璧归赵 英文)


When King Huiwen was ruling the State of Zhao, he was fortunate enough to acquire a piece of jade discovered by Bian He of the State of Chu. Hearing this, King Zhao of the State of Qin set a letter to the King of Zhao, offering fifteen cities in exchange for the treasure.The King immediately sought counsel with General Lian Po and his ministers, confessing that he was worried he might thus lose the jade for nothing if the ruler of Qin broke his word and refused to give hime the cities, and on the other hand, if he did not let go the jade, Qin might come to attack Zhao. Much discussion went on, but the matter was not settled. Pending the solution of this problem, King Huiwen looked for a person who could give Qin a satisfactory reply, yet he was not able to find the right man...

The King, then, summoned Lin Xiangru to his presence and brought out the question.

"Shall I give the King of Qin my jade in exchange for his fifteen cities?" asked the prince.

"Since Qin is more powerful than Zhao, it seems you have to comply with the request,"answered Xiangru.

"Suppose he takes my stone without giving me the cities, what is to be done?"

"If Qin offers the cities in exchange for the stone and Zhao refuses, Zhao will be in the wrong. If Zhao gives the jade and Qin does not give the cities, Qin will be in the wrong.Weighing these two situation, I prefer to give consent to Qin's request so that Qin will be put in a position susceptible of going wrong."

"Then, who is eligible for this mission?"

"I know Your Highness can't find the right person. I am willing to be the messenger and escort the jade on Qin. If Zhao gets the promised cities, then I will leave the jade in Qin; otherwise,upon my word, I will bring it back intact."

So,the King of Zhao despatched Xiangru westward to Qin with the jade. On arrival, Xiangru was received by the King of Qin in Changtai Palace. Xiangru offered the jade to the ruler of Qin who was greatly pleased. He showed it round among his palace maids and attendants. The courtiers hailed and applauded.

Seeing that the King of Qin had no intention of giving the promised cities to Zhao, Xiangru stepped forward and said,"The jade has flaws. PLease let me show it to Your Highness." The King of Qin handed the jade over to Xiangru who with the stone in hand retreated a few steps to lean on a column and in great fury addressed the King,"When Your Highness wrote to the King of Zhao expressing your wish to possess the jade our prince immediately called in all his ministers to seek their opinion. The ministers said,'Qin is a greedy state and on the strength of its power and might only wants to get the jade for nothing. We are afraid that we may not be able to get the cities promised by Qin.' So it was their concensus that we should not give you the jade. But, to my mind, not even commoners will ever resort to cheating when making friends, let alone a powerful state. Moreover, it is not worthwhile for Zhao to offend the powerful Qin's friendly feelings merely because of a piece of jade. Having listened to my advice the King of Zhao fasted for five days before he asked me to bring the jade here, and when he sent me off, he even went through a ceremony in the courtyard for the solemn act of giving me the credentials. Just think, why should the King of Zhao do all that? It only shows his double respect for the prestige of a powerful state like yours. Well, now I am here and you receive me in an ordinary palace like this without any protocol, which cannot but be a sign of your arrogance. What is more, you have just passed the jade around among the maids to make me look ridiculous. Since I see that Your Highness has no intention of compensating Zhao with the cities which you definitely promised, I claim the jade back. If Your Highness chooses to put pressure on me to submit it , I will immediately knock both the stone and my head against this column, and break both."

Saying this, Xiangru help up the jade and directed his eyes toward the column,ready to act. Afraud that he was going to smash the jade, the King of Qin made an apology and entreated Xiangru not to do so. Then, he summoned the official concerned to read the map of Qin to Xiangru and mark off fifteen cities to be given over to Zhao.

Being a cautious man, Xiangru had a notion that the King of Qin was only playing a trick, pretending to make Zhao a gift of the cities, but not intending that Zhao should actually obtain them. So he said to the King of Qin seriously,"Heshi Jade is known by all to be a treasure. That Zhao has offered it to Qin is out of fear. Since our King when he sent the jade to you fasted for five days, it is only proper that Your Highness should do likewise and, later, perform a solemn ceremony of reception in the main palace. Only then dare I offer the jade to you." Realizing that after all he could rob it from Xiangru by force, the King of Qin promised to fast and ordered Xiangru to be lodged in the Guangheng Palace Guest House.

Considering again that the King of Qin, although he had promised to fast and might actually do so, was any minute ready to go back on his words and refuse to give the cities, Xiangru asked his attendant to disguise himself as a commoner by putting on a coarse hemp coat and to return to Zhao with the jade by a short-cut.


完璧归赵(chinese idioms)

赵惠文王的时候，得到了楚国的和氏璧。秦昭王听说了这件事，就派人给赵王一封书信，表示愿意用十五座城交换这块宝玉。赵王同大将军廉颇及大臣们商量：要是把宝玉给了秦国，秦国的城邑恐怕不可能得到，白白地受骗；要是不给呢，就怕秦军马上来攻打。怎么解决没有确定，想找一个能派到秦国去回复的使者，没能找到。...

于是赵王立即召见，问蔺相如说：“秦王用十五座城请求交换我的和氏璧，能不能给他？”相如说：“秦国强，赵国弱，不能不答应它。”赵王说：“得了我的宝璧，不给我城邑，怎么办？”相如说：“秦国请求用城换璧，赵国如不答应，赵国理亏；赵国给了璧而秦国不给赵国城邑，秦国理亏。两种对策衡量一下，宁可答应它，让秦国来承担理亏的责任。”赵王说：“谁可以派为使臣？”相如说：“大王如果确实无人可派，臣愿捧护宝璧前往出使。城邑归属赵国了，就把宝璧留给秦国；城邑不能归赵国，我一定把和氏璧完好地带回赵国。”赵王于是就派遣蔺相如带好和氏璧，西行入秦。

秦王坐在章台上接见蔺相如，相如捧璧献给秦王。秦王大喜，把宝璧给妻妾和左右侍从传看，左右都高呼万岁。相如看出秦王没有用城邑给赵国抵偿的意思，便走上前去说：“璧上有个小红斑，让我指给大王看。”秦王把璧交给他，相如于是手持璧玉退后几步站定，身体靠在柱子上，怒发冲冠，对秦王说：“大王想得到宝璧，派人送信给赵王，赵王召集全体大臣商议，大家都说：‘秦国贪得无厌，倚仗它的强大，想用空话得到宝璧，给我们的城邑恐怕是不能得到的。’商议的结果不想把宝璧给秦国。我认为平民百姓的交往尚且不互相欺骗，何况是大国呢！况且为了一块璧玉的缘故就使强大的秦国不高兴，也是不应该的。于是赵王斋戒了五天，派我捧着宝璧，在殿堂上恭敬地拜送国书。为什么要这样呢？是尊重大国的威望以表示敬意呀。如今我来到贵国，大王却在一般的台观接见我，礼节非常傲慢；得到宝璧后，传给姬妾们观看，这样来戏弄我。我观察大王没有给赵王十五城的诚意，所以我又收回宝璧。大王如果一定要逼我，我的头今天就同宝璧一起在柱子上撞碎！”

完璧归赵,比喻把原物完好地归还本人。

两败俱伤Both Sides Lose, Neighter Side Gains

Both Sides Lose, Neighter Side Gains（成语 两败俱伤 英文)


The State of Han and the State of Wei(1) were fighting each other. For a whole year, the two were locked together in the tussle.King Hui of the State of Qin was thinking of interfering, and so he asked his ministers for their opinion. Some said that interference would bring good to the state while others asserted that it would only bring harm. This left King Hui in a dilemma, unable to come to a decision.
...
An eloquent debater called Chen Zhen(2) opened up, saying:"Has anyone ever told Your Highness the story of Zhuangzi(3) killing tigers? Well, Zhuangzi was going to kill tigers having an ox as their prey when an attendant in his inn came to stop him, saying:'Not now. The two animals are just beginning to eat the ox, and when they find the taste of the meat really delicious, they will certainly come to contend for it . And contention will lead to a fight, and in fighting the big one will sufferinjury while the small one will be killed. Then you can go and kill them and you will win yourself the fame of having killed two tigers at one stroke.' Bian Zhuangzi thought that the man had said the right thing and waited.Before long the two beasts as predicted came to a strife and also as had been said, the big one got injured and the small one succumbed. Zhuangzi then thrust his sword into the wounded one and obtained two dead tigers at once."

Chen Zhen paused and then went on,"Now, Han and Wei have been fighting each other for a year and come out even. But it will turn out that the bigger state is to suffer from damage and the smaller one to collapse. Talking advantage of this, we will reap double gains, just like the case of Zhuangzi, the tiger-killer."

"Good!" uttered King Hui, who then gave up the idea of interference. Truly, things happened as expected: the bigger state Wei lost much of its strength and the smaller Han was vanquished. Qin then despatched its troops to attack both and won an overwhelming victory.


两败俱伤(chinese idioms)

韩魏相攻，期年不解。秦惠王欲救之，问于左右。左右或曰救之便，或曰勿救便，惠王未能为之决。

...

陈轸对曰：“王闻夫越人庄舄乎？”王曰：“不闻。”曰：“越人庄舄仕楚执珪，有顷而病。楚王曰：‘舄故越之鄙细人也，今仕楚执珪，贵富矣，亦思越不？’中谢对曰：‘凡人之思故，在其病也。彼思越则越声，不思越则楚声。’使人往听之，犹尚越声也。今臣虽□逐之楚，岂能无秦声哉！”惠王曰：“善。今韩魏相攻，期年不解，或谓寡人救之便，或曰勿救便，寡人不能决，愿子为子主计之余，为寡人计之。”陈轸对曰：“亦尝有以夫卞庄子刺虎闻于王者乎？庄子欲刺虎，馆竖子止之，曰：‘两虎方且食牛，食甘必争，争则必斗，斗则大者伤，小者死，从伤而刺之，一举必有双虎之名。’卞庄子以为然，立须之。有顷，两虎果斗，大者伤，小者死。庄子从伤者而刺之，一举果有双虎之功。今韩魏相攻，期年不解，是必大国伤，小国亡，从伤而伐之，一举必有两实。此犹庄子刺虎之类也。臣主与王何异也。”惠王曰：“善。” 卒弗救。大国果伤，小国亡，秦兴兵而伐，大克之。

两败俱伤,斗争双方都受到损伤，谁也没得到好处。

门可罗雀You Can Trap Sparrows at the Quiet Door

You Can Trap Sparrows at the Quiet Door（成语 门可罗雀 英文)


When Zhai Gong, whose native place was Xiangui(1), was made administrator of justice, guests swarmed to his residence. But, when he was dismissed from office, it was so quiet at the door of his mansion that a sieve-trap for sparrows could be set there without fear of being disturbed.

Later, on his resuming office, his guests wanted to call on him again. He at once wrote some big words on a piece of paper and had it posted up at the gate. The words were: If one wats to know who is true-hearted, the best moment is when he becomes dead or, fortunately,escapes from death; and to find out who has a sincere attitude, then it is when he becomes poor or as the case may be rich. The best time to test friendship is when he is exalted or, unfortunately, humiliated.

_____________remark_______________
(1) present-day Weinart County in Shanxi Province.

门可罗雀(chinese idioms)

下邽人翟公，乃汉文帝时大臣，任廷尉时，为九卿之一，位高权重。每日车马盈门，宾客如云，络绎不绝，水泄不通。其失官后，宾客绝迹，门可罗雀。后官复原职，众宾客复登门求见。此一失一得，一贫一富之况，令翟公感世态炎凉，人多趋炎附势者，顿感忿懑，便于门首书一行大字曰：“一死一生，乃知交情；一贫一富，乃知交态；一贵一贱，交情乃见。”

门可罗雀,形容门庭冷清

围魏救赵Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao

Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao（成语 围魏救赵 英文)


The State of Wei attacked the State of Zhao and besieged its capital. Desperate, Zhao asked the State of Qi(1) for help. King Wei of the State of Qi was prepared to commission Sun Bin(2) as Commander-in Chief to carry out the operation. This Sun politely refused, saying:"It is not advisable for a man like me who has suffered corporal punishment." Then, the King gave the post to Tian Ji, and Sun was appointed military counsellor and arranged to sit in a covered van to mastermind the coming military moves.

Tian Ji was planning to march his troops directly to Zhao when Sun suggested:"It is common knowledge that to disentangle a messy skein of silk, closing one's fighting parties, taking part in the conflict won't work. Stay clear of the enemy's main forces and strike at his weak point to create conflicts and apprehension in the enemy, the inevitably the siege will be lifted."

"Now, Liang(3) is attacking Zhao," Sun added, coming to the point."Its mobile elite troops must be fatigued, having marched far from their homeland. On the other hand, its older, weaker forces that remain behind at home, must be under heavy strain. SO, it would be wise for you to rush our troops to the capital of Liang, cut of their line of communication and attack their weak spot; then, for sure, Liang will have to give up Zhao and turn to save its own capital. In this way we shall in one operation rasi the siege of Zhao and at the same time reap the rewards of Liang's collapse."

Tian Ji agreed and did as advised. Soon Wei withdrew from Handan(4) and on the way home its army encountered that of Qi at Guiling(5). Qi won an overwhelming victory over Liang.

_____________remark_______________
(1) These three states were among the seven powerful states at the time during the Warring States Period(475-221 BC).
(2) Sun was a descendant of the famous military strategist Sun Wu. He and Pang Juan were both students of the art of war under the same teacher. Knowing Sun was superior in talent, Pang invited Sun to serve the State of Wei as his assistant, and then on a frame-up charge sentenced Sun to corporal punishment, having his feet amputated. Later, Sun fled to the State of Qi and he was well received by King Wei and Tian Ji. He emerged as a famous strategist, and was known as Sun Bin(bin in Chinese bearing the meaning of being amputated) so that his actual name was never recorded in history.
(3) Wei was also called Liang because its capital was later moved to Daliang(present-day Kaifeng, Henan Province).
(4) the capital of Zhao(in present-day Hebei Province).
(5) near present-day Heze Country, Shandong Province.

围魏救赵(chinese idioms)

魏国攻打赵国，赵国危急，向齐国请求救援。齐威王想让孙膑担任将军，孙膑婉言推辞说：“受过刑的人不可做军中的主帅。”在这种情况下就让田忌担任将军，孙膑担任军师。田忌想带兵到赵国去，孙膑说：“解开乱丝不能整个的抓住了去拉，劝解打架不能在双方相持很紧的地方去搏拉。打击要害处冲击空虚处，现在的形势禁止我们直接去救援，如果打击敌人空虚处，那么自然就会解除危急。你不如带兵迅速奔向魏国都城大梁，占据交通要道，冲击正好空虚的地方，魏军必定会放弃攻打赵国而去救自己的国家，这样我军就能一举解除赵国的围困而对魏国可以收到使它疲惫的效果。”田忌听从了他的建议。魏军果然离开了赵国都城邯郸，和齐军在桂陵这个地方交战。结果齐军把魏军打得大败。