📖 Meaning
This idiom means to go out as a military general and return as a civil prime minister. It describes a person of exceptional talent who is capable of holding both the highest military and civil offices in the government. It is a variant of the more common idiom 出将入相.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Song dynasty scholar Ouyang Xiu's essay 'Record of the Brocade Hall in Xiangzhou' (《相州尽锦堂记》), where he wrote that one could 'go out as general and in as prime minister, laboring diligently for the royal house.' It extols officials who possess both military prowess and civil governance ability, serving the state in the highest capacities. The Song historian Shao Bowen later used it in 'Wenjian Qianlu' to describe the official Lu Gong, who held such offices for fifty years.
💡 Example Usage
他出入将相数十年，深得朝廷倚重。
He served as both general and prime minister for decades, earning the deep trust of the imperial court.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 出入将相
- Pinyin: chū rù jiāng xiāng
- Literal Translation: exit, enter, general, prime minister
- Category: Leadership
- Characters: 4