Proven Results Archives - understand-culture

Talking War on Paper

Zhao Kuo, son of the Zhao general Zhao She, studied the art of war from his youth and believed that no one could match him. When he discussed war with his father, Zhao She could not refute him, but he would not call him good. “War is a place of death,” he told his wife, “and Kuo speaks of it lightly.” If Zhao ever made Kuo a general, he said, Kuo would destroy its army.

When the king gave Kuo the command against Qin, his mother wrote to the king that he must not lead. At Changping in 260 BC, Qin troops shot Kuo dead, and his surrendered army was buried alive. Sima Qian put Zhao’s total losses at 450,000. Because of her warning, the king spared his mother.

The idiom zhi shang tan bing, talking war on paper, comes from this story. Dictionaries define it as empty talk about theory that has nothing to do with reality.

Words Beyond Substance

Ma Su was highly gifted and loved to discuss military plans, and Zhuge Liang thought very highly of him. On his deathbed, Liu Bei warned Zhuge Liang: “Ma Su’s words exceed his substance. He cannot be given great tasks. Watch him.” Zhuge Liang did not agree and often talked with Ma Su from morning until night.

In 228, many urged that veteran generals such as Wei Yan lead the vanguard. Zhuge Liang gave it to Ma Su instead. At Jieting, the Wei general Zhang He routed him. Ma Su died in prison, and Zhuge Liang wept for him. (Records of the Three Kingdoms)

The phrase yan guo qi shi, words beyond substance, comes from Liu Bei’s warning. Dictionaries define its original sense as boastful words that exceed real ability.

Peach and Plum Trees Do Not Speak

The Han general Li Guang was slow of speech and said little. Sima Qian wrote: “I saw General Li. He was as plain as a country man and could not speak well. On the day he died, everyone in the realm mourned him, those who knew him and those who did not.”

Sima Qian ended his account of the general with a proverb: tao li bu yan, xia zi cheng xi. “Peach and plum trees do not speak, yet a path forms beneath them.” He added: “The saying is small, but it can explain great things.” (Records of the Grand Historian)

The Oil Seller

In a short piece by the Song writer Ouyang Xiu, the archer Chen Yaozi has no equal in his time and is proud of it. An old oil seller watches him hit eight or nine shots in ten and only nods slightly. “Do you know archery? Is my shooting not fine?” Chen asks. The old man answers: “Nothing special. Only a practiced hand.”

Chen is angry. The old man sets a gourd on the ground, covers its mouth with a coin and pours oil through the hole in the coin without wetting it. “I too have nothing special,” he says. “Only a practiced hand.” Chen laughs and sends him away.

The Oil Seller is in the Chinese textbook for the second half of seventh grade.

The Three-Nos Scientist

On October 5, 2015, the pharmaceutical chemist Tu Youyou was named a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work on artemisinin, a drug against malaria. She had no doctorate, had not studied abroad and was not a member of the Academy of Sciences. Chinese media had jokingly called her a sanwu scientist, a “three-nos” scientist.

Empty Talk Harms the Nation

On November 29, 2012, Xi Jinping and other leaders visited the exhibition The Road to Rejuvenation at the National Museum in Beijing. There Xi said: kongtan wu guo, shigan xing bang. “Empty talk harms the nation. Real work makes it flourish.”

An Awl in a Bag

Lord Pingyuan of Zhao was choosing twenty retainers for a mission to Chu when Mao Sui offered himself. The lord asked how long he had served. Three years, said Mao Sui. “A capable man in the world is like an awl in a bag,” the lord replied. “Its tip shows at once.” In three years, no one had praised Mao Sui, so the lord concluded that he had nothing.

“Then today I ask to be put in the bag,” Mao Sui answered. “Had I been put in it earlier, the whole awl would have slipped out, not only the tip.” The other nineteen exchanged mocking looks. In Chu, they all gave way to him in debate. (Records of the Grand Historian)

The idiom Mao Sui zi jian, Mao Sui recommends himself, means to volunteer oneself. The lord’s first question had been how long he had served.

Listen to the Words, Watch the Deeds

When his disciple Zai Yu slept during the day, Confucius said: “At first, with people, I listened to their words and trusted their deeds. Now, with people, I listen to their words and watch their deeds. It was Zai Yu who made me change.” (Analects 5.10)

He also said: “The gentleman wishes to be slow in speech and quick in action.” (Analects 4.24)

Sayings on Skill and Proof

真金不怕火炼 True gold does not fear the fire. Said of what is right, and of upright people, who stand any test.

事实胜于雄辩 Facts are stronger than eloquence.

半瓶醋 Half a bottle of vinegar. A person with a little knowledge or skill, but not much. A dictionary example: “Listen to him talk big. In fact, he is only half a bottle of vinegar.”

班门弄斧 To swing an axe at the door of Lu Ban, the master carpenter. To show off one’s skill in front of experts.

真人不露相，露相不真人 The true master does not show his face. The one who shows his face is not a true master. Said of people with real ability who do not make a show of it. (Journey to the West)

大智若愚 Great wisdom seems foolish. Said of people of outstanding talent who do not show it.