📖 Meaning
This idiom originally refers to the pearl-adorned plate and jade vessel used by feudal lords during alliance-making ceremonies in ancient China. By extension, it means to form an alliance or conclude a formal treaty between parties.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the 'Rites of Zhou' (周礼·天官·王府), which records that the royal treasury would supply pearl-decorated plates and jade vessels when feudal lords gathered to form alliances. The Han dynasty scholar Zheng Xuan annotated that the 'dun' (敦) was a type of plate ornamented with pearls and jade, used in ancient alliance rituals. During these ceremonies, plates held blood and vessels held food. The assembled lords would cut a bull's ear, collect its blood, and smear it upon their lips as a blood oath. The pearl plate was used to hold the bull's ear, and the officiating priest would hold it during the swearing of the oath.
💡 Example Usage
战国时期，六国珠槃玉敦，合力抗秦。
During the Warring States period, the six states formed an alliance to jointly resist the state of Qin.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 珠槃玉敦
- Pinyin: zhū pán yù dūn
- Literal Translation: pearl, plate, jade, vessel
- Category: Leadership
- Characters: 4