改弦易张 gǎi xián yì zhāng Change the strings and adjust the tuning pegs

Explanation

比喻改革制度或变更计划、方法。

A metaphor for reforming systems or changing plans and methods.

Origin Story

话说东汉末年，群雄逐鹿，天下大乱。有一位名叫张角的农民起义领袖，他深感当时的社会制度腐败，百姓民不聊生，于是他决定改弦易张，带领农民推翻腐朽的王朝。他广招天下有志之士，并创立了太平道，传播他的思想。太平道的信徒人数迅速增加，张角也日益壮大。终于，他率领太平道信徒起兵反叛，一时间声势浩大，席卷了大半个中国。然而，由于张角的战略失误和内部矛盾，最终太平道起义失败了，张角也被杀害。尽管太平道起义最终失败了，但它仍然是历史上一次重要的农民起义，也反映了当时社会矛盾的尖锐程度。改弦易张的理念，也深刻地影响了后世的历史进程，提醒人们，社会制度的改革创新是社会发展进步的必然趋势。

huà shuō dōnghàn mònián, qúnxióng zhúlù, tiānxià dàluàn. yǒu yī wèi míng jiào zhāng jiǎo de nóngmín qǐyì lǐngxiù, tā shēngǎn dāngshí de shèhuì zhìdù fǔbài, bǎixìng mín bù liáo shēng, yúshì tā juédìng gǎi xián yì zhāng, dài lǐng nóngmín tuīfān fǔxiǔ de wángcháo. tā guǎng zhāo tiānxià yǒuzhì zhī shì, bìng chuànglì le tàipíngdào, chuánbō tā de sīxiǎng. tàipíngdào de xìntú rénshù sùsù zēngjiā, zhāng jiǎo yě rìyì zhuàngdà. zhōngyú, tā shuàilǐng tàipíngdào xìntú qǐbīng fǎnbàn, yīshí shēngshì hàodà, xíjuǎn le dà bàn gè zhōngguó. rán'ér, yóuyú zhāng jiǎo de zhànlüè shīwù hé nèibù máodùn, zuìzhōng tàipíngdào qǐyì shībài le, zhāng jiǎo yě bèi shā hài. jǐnguǎn tàipíngdào qǐyì zuìzhōng shībài le, dàn tā réngrán shì lìshǐ shàng yī cì zhòngyào de nóngmín qǐyì, yě fǎnyìng le dāngshí shèhuì máodùn de jiānrèn chéngdù. gǎi xián yì zhāng de lǐniàn, yě shēnkè de yǐngxiǎng le hòushì de lìshǐ jìnchéng, tíxǐng rénmen, shèhuì zhìdù de gǎigé chuàngxīn shì shèhuì fāzhǎn jìnbù de bìrán qūshì.

In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, when various warlords were vying for supremacy, the country was in great chaos. A peasant leader named Zhang Jiao, deeply aware of the corruption of the social system and the suffering of the people, decided to change the existing situation and lead the peasants to overthrow the decaying dynasty. He recruited people of ambition, founded the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and spread his ideas. The number of followers of the Yellow Turban Rebellion grew rapidly, and Zhang Jiao’s power became increasingly substantial. Eventually, he led a rebellion with great momentum, sweeping across much of China. However, due to Zhang Jiao's strategic mistakes and internal contradictions, the Yellow Turban Rebellion ultimately failed, and Zhang Jiao was killed. Although it ultimately failed, the Yellow Turban Rebellion remains an important peasant uprising in history, reflecting the acute social contradictions at the time. The concept of changing the existing situation has profoundly influenced historical processes, reminding people that reform and innovation of social systems are necessary for social progress.

Usage

用于比喻改革制度或变更计划、方法。

yòng yú bǐyù gǎigé zhìdù huò biàngéng jìhuà, fāngfǎ

Used to describe the reform of systems or the change of plans and methods.

Examples

• 公司面临困境，必须改弦易张，调整策略。

  gōngsī miànlín kùnjìng, bìxū gǎi xián yì zhāng, tiáozhěng cèlüè

  The company is facing difficulties and must change its strategy.

• 时代在发展，我们不能墨守成规，要改弦易张，与时俱进。

  shídài zài fāzhǎn, wǒmen bù néng mòshǒuchéngguī, yào gǎi xián yì zhāng, yǔ shí jù jìn

  Times are changing. We cannot stick to old methods, we must adapt and keep up with the times..

Related Idioms

• 改弦更张

• 改弦易调

Opposite Idioms

• 墨守成规

• 故步自封