📖 Meaning
To abolish the old and advocate the new. The phrase specifically refers to political reform and improvement, promoting change from outdated systems to new approaches.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Yuan dynasty play 《范张鸡黍》 (Fan and Zhang's Chicken and Millet) by playwright 宫大用 (Gong Dayong). The original line reads '文武氏革旧维新，周公礼百王兼备' (The civil and martial figures abolished the old and promoted the new, while the Duke of Zhou's rites were comprehensive across a hundred kings). It invokes the spirit of political reform exemplified by ancient sages. The play itself recounts the celebrated friendship between Fan Shi and Zhang Shao of the Eastern Han dynasty.
💡 Example Usage
改革开放以来，中国革旧维新，推动了经济社会的快速发展。
Since the reform and opening-up, China has abolished the old and promoted the new, driving rapid economic and social development.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 革旧维新
- Pinyin: gé jiù wéi xīn
- Literal Translation: abolish, old, advocate, new
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4