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完壁归赵 (wan2 bi4 gui1 zhao4) - Defending the stone
By Zhang Ciyun |
October 18, 2009, Sunday
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For some Chinese idioms, people are more interested in the stories behind them than the sayings themselves. One such example is "wan2 bi4 gui1 zhao4," or "to bring back the jade intact to the State of Zhao."
The jade story dates back to the Warring States Period (476-221 BC).
After learning that King Hui Wen of the State of Zhao had acquired an extremely beautiful piece of jade, the ruler of the State of Qin sent a letter to the Zhao ruler.
In the letter, the Qin king offered 15 towns to the State of Zhao in exchange for the treasure.
King Hui Wen was worried that the Qin king might take the jade from him and then refuse to hand over the 15 towns.
But, since Qin was much more powerful than Zhao, it seemed that the Zhao ruler had to comply with the request.
So, he decided to appoint Lin Xiangru, a brave and resourceful official, as his envoy to take the stone to the State of Qin and seal the deal with the Qin king.
Before his departure, Lin told the Zhao king that he would bring back the jade intact if the Qin ruler broke his word.
After receiving the stone, the Qin ruler was so pleased. He held it in his hands and showed it to his aides. It seemed that he had no intention to talk about the 15 towns he had promised in exchange for the jade.
Seeing this, the Zhao envoy told the Qin king that the jade had an almost indiscernible flaw and he would like to show it to him.
But when the stone was in his hand, the envoy retreated a few steps toward a granite column, threatening to break both the jade and his own head against the column if the king forced him to relinquish the stone without giving Zhao the promised towns.
The Qin king did not want to see the treasure destroyed, so he agreed to the Zhao envoy's demand, saying he would hold a grand ceremony the next day for the exchange of the stone.
That night, the envoy sneaked out of the State of Qin and returned the jade intact to the State of Zhao as he had promised.
Today, people are still moved by the courage and aptitude of the Zhao envoy in the story.
And they tend to quote the saying "wan2 bi4 gui1 zhao4" to describe something being returned to its owner intact.
The jade story dates back to the Warring States Period (476-221 BC).
After learning that King Hui Wen of the State of Zhao had acquired an extremely beautiful piece of jade, the ruler of the State of Qin sent a letter to the Zhao ruler.
In the letter, the Qin king offered 15 towns to the State of Zhao in exchange for the treasure.
King Hui Wen was worried that the Qin king might take the jade from him and then refuse to hand over the 15 towns.
But, since Qin was much more powerful than Zhao, it seemed that the Zhao ruler had to comply with the request.
So, he decided to appoint Lin Xiangru, a brave and resourceful official, as his envoy to take the stone to the State of Qin and seal the deal with the Qin king.
Before his departure, Lin told the Zhao king that he would bring back the jade intact if the Qin ruler broke his word.
After receiving the stone, the Qin ruler was so pleased. He held it in his hands and showed it to his aides. It seemed that he had no intention to talk about the 15 towns he had promised in exchange for the jade.
Seeing this, the Zhao envoy told the Qin king that the jade had an almost indiscernible flaw and he would like to show it to him.
But when the stone was in his hand, the envoy retreated a few steps toward a granite column, threatening to break both the jade and his own head against the column if the king forced him to relinquish the stone without giving Zhao the promised towns.
The Qin king did not want to see the treasure destroyed, so he agreed to the Zhao envoy's demand, saying he would hold a grand ceremony the next day for the exchange of the stone.
That night, the envoy sneaked out of the State of Qin and returned the jade intact to the State of Zhao as he had promised.
Today, people are still moved by the courage and aptitude of the Zhao envoy in the story.
And they tend to quote the saying "wan2 bi4 gui1 zhao4" to describe something being returned to its owner intact.
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