S3E03 | Go for Broke | 破釜沉舟
Saying: “Break the pots and sink the boats”
Pinyin: Pò Fǔ Chén Zhōu
Chinese: 破釜沉舟
For this week’s offering, we hear the well-known legend of Xiang Yu, Zhang Han, and Liu Bang. As the Qin Dynasty starts to crumble Xiang Yu heads to the defense of Zhao State to face off against the ever-victorious Qin general Zhang Han and ultimately the kingship of Guanzhong. Before he engaged Zhang Han in battle, Xiang Yu shouted a four-syllable order to his troops.
And we look at these famous words in this episode.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Battle of Dìngtáo | 定陶之战 | Battle in 208 BCE that saw Xiang Liang face off unsuccessfully against Zhang Han |
| Chén | 沉 | to sink |
| Chén zhōu | 沉舟 | sink a boat |
| Chǔ | 楚国 | Powerful state in central China centered around Hubei |
| Fǔ | 釜 | a kind of pot that was commonly used in ancient China to make your rice and cook food |
| Guānzhōng | 关中 | The Qin homeland and part of the heartland of China |
| Hándān | 邯郸 | Capital of Zhao |
| Húběi | 湖北 | Central Chinese province |
| Jùlù zhī zhàn | 巨鹿之战 | Battle of Jùlù 207 BCE (present day Hebei), Qin suffered a defeat at the hands of Chu |
| Liú Bāng | 刘邦 | Xiang Yu's rival, the founder of the Han Dynasty (a.k.a. Han Gaozu) |
| Pò | 破 | to break something |
| Pò Fǔ | 破釜 | to break your cooking pot |
| Pò Fǔ Chén Zhōu | 破釜沉舟 | Break the pots and sink the boats |
| Qi | 齐国 | One of the two main states that comprise present day Shandong |
| Qín | 秦朝 | The Qin Dynasty 221 - 206 BCE |
| Qín Shǐhuáng | 秦始皇 | The First Emperor of China |
| Qín Èrshǐ | 秦二世 | Son of Qin Shihuang and the second emperor |
| Shǐ Jì | 史记 | Records of the Grand Historian |
| Sòng Yì | 宋义 | Procrastinating general of Chu. He moved too slow for Xiang Yu |
| Sānménxiá | 三门峡 | Ancient Yellow River city west of Luoyang in Henan |
| Sīmǎ Qiān | 司马迁 | Han Dynasty historian (c. 135-186 BCE), father of Chinese historiography, co-writer of the Record of the Grand Historian |
| Sīmǎ Tán | 司马谈 | Father of Sima Qian and co-writer of the Record of the Grand Historian |
| Tai'an | 泰安 | City just south of Jinan |
| Xiàng Liáng | 项梁 | Uncle of Xiang Yu who perished at Dingtao |
| Xiàng Yǔ | 项羽 | Military great from Chu State who lived 232-202 BCE |
| Xiàng Yǔ Běn Jì | 项羽本纪 | The chapter from the Record of the Grand Historian that contains this chengyu |
| Xiányáng | 咸阳 | Capital of the Qin Dynasty, present day Xian |
| Xīān | 西安 | Capital of Shaanxi province |
| Yìmǎ | 义马 | City south of Hándān in Hebei |
| Zhào Gāo | 赵高 | Scheming advisor to all Qin emperors |
| Zhào state | 赵国 | One of the Seven warring States |
| Zhāng Hán | 章邯 | Qin military great who fell to Xiang Yu at Julu |
| Zhōu | 舟 | a boat |
| Zhōu Dynasty | 周朝 | The dynasty that preceded the Qin |
