📖 Meaning
To implement civil education while invigorating military affairs. It describes a balanced approach to governance that attends equally to cultural and educational development and to military defense. The phrase is used of rulers or leaders who cultivate both wen (civil administration) and wu (martial strength).
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'Yu Gong' (Tribute of Yu) chapter of the Shangshu (Book of Documents), a foundational Confucian classic traditionally associated with the legendary Yu the Great. The text describes the 'Sui Fu' (Pacification Domain), a 500-li zone, of which the outer 300 li were designated for 'assessing civil education' (揆文教) and the inner 200 li for 'rousing military defense' (奋武卫). Kong Anguo's Han-dynasty commentary glosses 揆 as 'to measure,' meaning to measure and carry out the king's civil teachings. Later writers combined the two phrases into the four-character idiom 揆文奋武, denoting the dual policy of civil culture and military vigor, notably used by Hong Rengan of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
💡 Example Usage
新朝建立后，皇帝揆文奋武，悉心治理国政。
After the new dynasty was founded, the emperor pursued both civil education and military vigor, devoting himself to governing the realm.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 揆文奋武
- Pinyin: kuí wén fèn wǔ
- Literal Translation: assess, civil, rouse, military
- Category: Leadership
- Characters: 4