S2E04 | Surrounded! | 四面楚歌
Saying: “Surrounded on four sides with the Song of Chu”
Pinyin: Sì Miàn Chǔ Gē
Chinese: 四面楚歌
Hopefully none of us will ever face these circumstances…but when all is lost and you’re surrounded by enemies trying to take you down, remember the Songs of the ancient state of Chu.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ānhuì | 安徽 | Inland province in China |
| Chén Kǎigē | 陈凯歌 | b. 1952, One of the greats from China’s “5th Generation” of Film Directors |
| Chén Píng | 陈平 | Chancellor during early Western Han |
| Chǔ | 楚国 | Chu State or Chu Kingdom |
| Chǔ Gē | 楚歌 | songs from Chu or Chu folk songs |
| Chǔ Hé Hàn Jiè | 楚河汉界 | Chu River and Han Border |
| Chǔ-Hàn zhī zhēng | 楚汉之争 | Chǔ-Hàn Contention, the epic battle between Xiang Yu of Chu vs. Liu Bang of Han |
| Eastern Zhou | 东周 | The Eastern Zhou Dynasty 776-256 BCE |
| Farewell My Concubine | 霸王别姬 | 1993 Film by Chen Kaige starring the late great Leslie Cheung |
| Gāixià | 垓下 | Site of final showdown between Liu Bang and Xiang u, present day Sùzhōu (宿州) in Anhui Province |
| Gē | 歌 | song |
| Hàn Dynasty | 汉朝 | One of the great dynasties of China’s past 206 BCE to 220 CE |
| Hán Xìn | 韩信 | Liu Bang’s main general during the early Western Han |
| Hóng Canal | 鸿沟 | Located in Xíngyáng County Henan Province |
| Hǔběi | 湖北 | Province located north of Hunan |
| Hǔnán | 湖南 | Central province of China |
| Liú Bāng | 刘邦 | Ruler of the Han State |
| Miàn | 面 | face, to face someone or something, a side of something |
| Péngchéng | 彭城 | ancient name of Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province |
| Qín | 秦 | The first imperial dynasty in China 221-206 BCE |
| Qín Shǐhuáng | 秦始皇 | First Emperor of China 221-210 BCE |
| Shāndōng | 山东 | Coastal province in North China. Not as rich as Zhejiang but not poor either |
| Shǐ Jì | 史记 | The Records of the Grand Historian |
| Sì | 四 | four |
| Sì Miàn Chǔ Gē | 四面楚歌 | Surrounded on four sides with the Song of Chu |
| Sìmiàn | 四面 | four sides |
| Xiàng Yǔ | 项羽 | 232-202 BCE, Late Qin warlord, fought against Liu Bang for supremacy of China after Qin Shihuang’s death |
| Xiàng Yǔ Běnjì | 项羽本纪 | The chapter of the Records of the Grand Historian that deals with Xiang Yu |
| Xiàngqí | 象棋 | Chinese Chess |
| Xúzhōu | 徐州 | fourth largest city in Jiangsu province |
| Xīān | 西安 | Known in ancient times as Chang’an, capital of several dynasties |
| Yú Jī | 虞姬 | Consort Yu |
| Zhéjiāng | 浙江 | Rich coastal province |
| Zhāng Liáng | 张良 | Statesman and strategist of the Western Han |
