📖 Meaning
A metaphor for stretching an interpretation and distorting the original meaning of a text. It comes from a story in which a misspelled letter from Ying was creatively misread by the prime minister of Yan. Though the misreading led to good governance, it did not reflect the letter writer's actual intent.
📜 Origin Story
During the Warring States period, a man from Ying, the capital of the state of Chu, wrote a letter to the prime minister of the state of Yan. Writing at night when the lamplight was dim, he told his candle-bearer to 'raise the candle' (ju zhu) and inadvertently wrote those words into the letter. The prime minister of Yan interpreted 'raise the candle' as advice to promote the wise and govern with enlightenment, and reported this to his king. The king was delighted and governed accordingly, and the state was well administered—though this was not what the letter originally meant.
💡 Example Usage
他对古籍的解读有郢书燕说之嫌，虽不无道理，却非作者本意。
His interpretation of the ancient text arguably reads too much into it—though not unreasonable, it does not reflect the author's original intent.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 郢书燕说
- Pinyin: yǐng shū yān shuō
- Literal Translation: Ying (Chu capital), letter, Yan (state), explanation
- Category: Knowledge
- Characters: 4