📖 Meaning
Originally referring to the Warring States strategist Zhang Yi's deceitful diplomacy that tricked the state of Chu into betraying its ally Qi to align with Qin. It now describes using cunning and deception to sow discord between parties.
📜 Origin Story
During the Warring States period, the strategist Zhang Yi served the state of Qin and promoted the 'horizontal alliance' (连横) policy to break the 'vertical alliance' (合纵) of the six eastern states. He used deceitful diplomacy to lure the state of Qin's enemies and trick the state of Chu into severing ties with its ally Qi, turning Chu toward Qin instead. The phrase was later immortalized by Qing dynasty writer Yu Huai in his work 'Banqiao Zaji' (板桥杂记), where he wrote of using the scheme of luring Qin and deceiving Chu to carry out plots of destroying the refined and noble. It has since become a metaphor for sowing discord through trickery.
💡 Example Usage
敌人用诱秦诓楚的手段离间了两国的关系。
The enemy used the tactics of luring and deceiving to drive a wedge between the two nations.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 诱秦诓楚
- Pinyin: yòu qín kuāng chǔ
- Literal Translation: lure Qin, deceive Chu
- Category: Method
- Characters: 4