Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Chinese idiom- One Step Holds the Balance (举足轻重 ju3 zu 2 qing 1 zhong4)

jǔ zú qīnɡ zhònɡ
举 足 轻 重
Explanation: Meaning a very important action in a situation.

The Story: In AD 25, Liu Xiu became the emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, but the whole country was not united yet. Both Kui Xiao in the Tianshui region and Gongsun Shu in the Shu region wanted to be the leader of the new nation.

General Dou Rong was the leader in the Hexi region at the time, and he studied the situation and found that Liu Xiu held the advantage in both politics and military strength. He gathered his intelligence advisors for a meeting, and then decided to send an envoy for negotiations.

Liu Xiu warmly welcomed the envoy and wrote General Dou Rong a letter in response. It said: "Kui Xiao is in Tianshui while Gongsun Shu is in Shu. Now they are planning an alliance war. You play a vital role in this situation. You will decide which side will win by standing with it."

After Dou Rong received the letter, he came to fight with Liu Xiu.

By getting Dou Rong's strong support, Liu Xiu defeated Kui Xiao and Gongsun Shu--and then he unified the country.

词 目 举足轻重

发 音 jǔ zú qīng zhòng

释 义 只要脚移动一下,就会影响两边的轻重。指处于重要地位,一举一动都足以影响全局。

出 处 南朝·宋·范晔后汉书·窦融传》:“方蜀汉相攻,权在将军,举足左右,便有轻重。”

示 例 举足轻重,动关大局。(蔡东藩许廑父民国通俗演义》第四回)

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