黃袍加身

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See also: 黄袍加身

Chinese

to add; plus
body; torso; person
body; torso; person; life; status; pregnancy; (a measure word used for clothes) suit
 
trad. (黃袍加身) 黃袍
simp. (黄袍加身) 黄袍
Literally: “to add to oneself a yellow robe; to drape oneself with a yellow robe”.

Etymology

The idiom comes from the event in 960 when military commander Zhao Kuangyin removed child emperor Guo Zongxun from the throne and proclaimed himself a new emperor after being presented an imperial dragon robe by his subordinates.

After becoming emperor, Zhao, for fear that military figures might betray him like he betraying his emperor, invited them to a wine banquet and successfully persuaded them to retire. This happened in 961 and gave rise to another idiom, 杯酒釋兵權杯酒释兵权 (bēi jiǔ shì bīng quán).

:「無主太尉天子。」未及太祖羅拜萬歲太祖乘馬
:「无主太尉天子。」未及太祖罗拜万岁太祖乘马
From: 1345 CE, Toqto'a (lead editor), History of Song
Zhū xiào lù rèn liè yú tíng, yuē: “Zhū jūn wúzhǔ, yuàn cè tàiwèi wèi tiānzǐ.” Wèijí duì, yǒu yǐ huáng yī jiā tàizǔ shēn, zhòng jiē luóbài, hū wànsuì, jí yē tàizǔ chéngmǎ.
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Pronunciation


Idiom

黃袍加身

  1. to stage a coup d'état; overthrow a government; take the throne
  2. to be crowned (as a monarch, ruler, winner, champion, etc.)