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Meteoric rise in rank
June 14, 2009, Sunday
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THE term "rocket cadre" was widely used during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) to describe anyone who was rapidly promoted to a high official position.
Today, however, the phrase has become antiquated and people have gone back to the traditional saying, qing1 yun2 zhi2 shang4, or "a direct rise into the blue sky" to indicate someone has risen rapidly in his or her career.
The traditional expression was first used during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).
Fan Ju was a court official in the State of Wei and at one point he accompanied his patron on a mission to the State of Qi.
The Qi ruler learned that Fan was an outstanding strategist and elocutionist, so he sent someone to persuade Fan to work for him. Fan declined.
After returning to the State of Wei, Fan was brutally punished and imprisoned by his patron who suspected he had betrayed him and the State of Wei.
With help from his friends, Fan later fled the State of Wei, changed his name and settled in the State of Qin.
The Duke of Qin also greatly appreciated Fan's talent and soon appointed him the prime minister.
Several years later, the State of Qin decided to invade the State of Wei. Fan's original patron was sent by the Wei ruler as a special envoy to the State of Qin to negotiate a peace accord.
The envoy was flabbergasted when he saw his former protege sitting at the other end of the negotiation table as prime minister.
When he finally found his tongue, the envoy began to apologize profusely for what he did to Fan.
"I didn't expect you would have such a direct rise into the blue sky," said the envoy.
Fan didn't accept his apology immediately. But after lecturing his former patron, Fan finally forgave him and allowed him to return to the State of Wei.
Today, few Chinese speakers remember the name of the Wei official, but his phrase qing1 yun2 zhi2 shang4 remains one of the most quoted sayings in the Chinese language.
Today, however, the phrase has become antiquated and people have gone back to the traditional saying, qing1 yun2 zhi2 shang4, or "a direct rise into the blue sky" to indicate someone has risen rapidly in his or her career.
The traditional expression was first used during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).
Fan Ju was a court official in the State of Wei and at one point he accompanied his patron on a mission to the State of Qi.
The Qi ruler learned that Fan was an outstanding strategist and elocutionist, so he sent someone to persuade Fan to work for him. Fan declined.
After returning to the State of Wei, Fan was brutally punished and imprisoned by his patron who suspected he had betrayed him and the State of Wei.
With help from his friends, Fan later fled the State of Wei, changed his name and settled in the State of Qin.
The Duke of Qin also greatly appreciated Fan's talent and soon appointed him the prime minister.
Several years later, the State of Qin decided to invade the State of Wei. Fan's original patron was sent by the Wei ruler as a special envoy to the State of Qin to negotiate a peace accord.
The envoy was flabbergasted when he saw his former protege sitting at the other end of the negotiation table as prime minister.
When he finally found his tongue, the envoy began to apologize profusely for what he did to Fan.
"I didn't expect you would have such a direct rise into the blue sky," said the envoy.
Fan didn't accept his apology immediately. But after lecturing his former patron, Fan finally forgave him and allowed him to return to the State of Wei.
Today, few Chinese speakers remember the name of the Wei official, but his phrase qing1 yun2 zhi2 shang4 remains one of the most quoted sayings in the Chinese language.
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