📖 Meaning
Like a tiger whose stripes change in splendor, it describes a person of high position whose actions and strategies shift unpredictably. The metaphor conveys that a great leader transforms with commanding grandeur, much like a tiger's coat becomes ever more magnificent.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Book of Changes (Zhouyi), specifically the hexagram Ge (革, Revolution) in the section dating to the Western Zhou dynasty (c. 1046–771 BCE). The original text states that when a great man undergoes transformation, it is like a tiger changing its stripes—majestic and awe-inspiring. The text adds that such a change needs no divination to confirm, for its sincerity is self-evident. Over centuries, commentators interpreted this as describing how rulers and eminent figures act with grand, unpredictable shifts that command respect.
💡 Example Usage
新君即位，大人虎变，朝野为之震慑。
Upon ascending the throne, the new ruler transformed with tiger-like majesty, leaving both court and country in awe.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 大人虎变
- Pinyin: dà rén hǔ biàn
- Literal Translation: great man, tiger, transform
- Category: Leadership
- Characters: 4