S7E06 | Locked and Loaded
Saying: “To feed the horses and sharpen the weapons”
Pinyin: Lì Bīng Mò Mǎ
Chinese: 厉兵秣马
Here comes one more textbook chengyu from the Spring and Autumn Period, as written by Master Zuo Qiuming 左丘明 himself. 厉兵秣马 Lì Bīng Mò Mǎ. Lots of marquee names from that exciting time, including Duke Mu of Qin and Duke Wen of Jin. Be sure to check the website for a handy downloadable cheat sheet listing all the Chinese names and terms. This one has a fair number of characters and place names. The kind of inter-kingdom rivalries that were one of the hallmarks of the Eastern Zhou are front and center in this 7th-century BC tale. This is a good Chinese Saying that has a few useful applications in real life. Thanks for listening.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Chéngyǔ | 成语 | A Chinese Saying or idiom |
| Zuǒ Zhuàn | 左转 | The Commentary of Zuo, is an ancient Chinese narrative history that is traditionally regarded as a commentary on the ancient Chinese chronicle Spring and Autumn Annals. It comprises 30 chapters covering a period from 722 to 468 BC, and focuses mainly on political, diplomatic, and military affairs from that era. |
| Zuǒ Qiūmíng | 左丘明 | 502 – 422 BC, was a Chinese historian who was a contemporary of Confucius that lived in the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. He is a historian, litterateur, thinker, essayist and worked as a historical official of Lu |
| Lì Bīng Mò Mǎ | 厉兵秣马 | Sharpen your weapons and feed the horses |
| Xī Gōng sānshísānnián | 僖公三十三年 | The chapter in the Zuo Zhuan that contains the chengyu featured in this episode |
| Zhèng Mù Gōng shǐ shì kè guǎn, zé shù zài lì bīng mò mǎ yǐ | 郑穆公使视客馆，则束载厉兵秣马矣 | The quote from the Zuo Zhuan that contains the Chengyu |
| Lì | 厉 | To grind or sharpen |
| Bīng | 兵 | Soldier, weapon |
| Mò | 秣 | To feed, or fodder for livestock |
| Mǎ | 马 | Horse |
| Duke Wén of Jìn | 晋文公 | 697–628 BC, born Chong'er, was a scion of the royal house of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. He famously endured a long period of exile from his realm before finally being restored to power (r. 636–628 BC) and rapidly leading Jin to hegemony over the other Chinese states of his time. He is a figure in numerous Chinese legends |
| Chóng’ěr | 重耳 | Another name by which Duke Wen of Jin is known by |
| Duke Mù of Qín | 秦穆公 | died 621 BC, duke of Qin (659–621 BC) during the Spring and Autumn Period. Sometimes considered one of China's Five Hegemons, he greatly expanded the territory of Qin. He was also known for his many talented advisors, such as Jian Shu |
| Zhou Dynasty | 周朝 | Dynasty led by the Ji Family that lasted 1046 - 256 BC |
| Zhèng State | 郑国 | A vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty located in the centre of ancient China in modern-day Henan Province on the North China Plain about 75 miles (121 km) east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It was the most powerful of the vassal states at the beginning of the Eastern Zhou (771–701 BCE) |
| Jìn State | 晋国 | a major state during the middle part of the Zhou dynasty, based near the centre of what was then China, on the lands attributed to the legendary Xia dynasty: the southern part of modern Shanxi |
| Qín State | 秦国 | an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. Traditionally dated to 897 BC, it took its origin in a reconquest of western lands previously lost to the Rong; its position at the western edge of Chinese civilization, In 221 BC their king would emerge as the unifier of China |
| Qīzǐ | 杞子 | Qin commander who Duke Mu left in charge of the garrison outside Zheng State |
| Mèng Míngshì | 孟明视 | One of the three generals sent by Duke Mu of Qin to ambush and defeat Zheng |
| Xī Qǐshù | 西乞术 | One of the three generals sent by Duke Mu of Qin to ambush and defeat Zheng |
| Bái Yǐbǐng | 白乙丙 | One of the three generals sent by Duke Mu of Qin to ambush and defeat Zheng |
| Jiǎn Shū | 蹇叔 | Duke Mu of Qin's cautious advisor who warned the duke of the danger of his plan to ambush Zheng |
| lǐ | 里 | A "Chinese Mile" often figured at one third of a mile |
| Huázhōu | 华州 | The location of the ancient Jin capital, a district of Wèinán, Shǎnxī 陕西渭南 |
| Duke Xiāng of Jìn | 晋襄公 | Died 621 BC, Duke Xiang was ruler of Jin from 627 to 621 BC |
| Huá Kingdom | 滑国 | A small fiefdom adjacent to the Zhou Dynasty lands, in present day Suī County 河南睢县, about an hour west of Shāngqiū 商丘 |
| Xián Gāo | 弦高 | The quick-witted Zheng merchant who was able to warn his ruler about an impending Qin surprise attack |
| Chéngyǔ Yánjiū Zhōngxīn | 成语研究中心 | The Teacup Chengyu Research Center, led by Emma and the team in Beijing |
