问鼎中原 Wèn dǐng zhōng yuán to ask for the tripod of the Central Plains

Explanation

问鼎中原，指的是古代统治者渴望得到天下，拥有至高无上的权力。 九鼎象征着国家的权力和统治，问鼎中原则表示想要夺取天下，建立统一的王朝。

“Asking for the tripod of China” refers to the ancient rulers’ yearning for the world and supreme power. The nine tripods symbolized the power and rule of the country, and asking for the tripod of China means wanting to seize the world and establish a unified dynasty.

Origin Story

话说春秋时期，诸侯国之间争斗不休，都想称霸中原。楚庄王雄心勃勃，他率领军队一路势如破竹，直逼中原腹地。在一次宴会上，有人问楚庄王：您此番出征，意欲何为？楚庄王故作神秘，只是淡淡地说：我此来，只是想看看这中原九鼎有多重。此话一出，顿时引起轩然大波，有人认为楚庄王这是在虚张声势，有人却觉得这是他问鼎中原的野心昭然若揭。楚庄王此举，可谓是兵不血刃，便震慑了中原诸侯，让他们不敢轻举妄动。最终，楚庄王以强大的实力和政治手腕，问鼎中原，成为春秋五霸之一，开创了楚国历史上最辉煌的时期。

Huashuo chunqiu shiqi, zhūhóu guó zhī jiān zhēngdòu bù xiū, dōu xiǎng chēng bà zhōngyuán. Chǔ Zhuāng Wáng xióngxīn bó bó, tā shuǎilǐng jūnduì yīlù shì rú pò zhú, zhíbī zhōngyuán fùdì. Zài yī cì yàn huì shang, yǒurén wèn Chǔ Zhuāng Wáng: Nín cǐ fān chū zhēng, yì yù hé wéi? Chǔ Zhuāng Wáng gù zuò shénmì, zhǐshì dàn dàn de shuō: Wǒ cǐ lái, zhǐshì xiǎng kànkan zhè zhōngyuán jiǔ dǐng yǒu duō zhòng. Cǐ huà yī chū, dùn shí yǐnqǐ xuān rán dà bō, yǒurén rènwéi Chǔ Zhuāng Wáng zhè shì zài xū zhāng shēngshì, yǒurén què juéde zhè shì tā wèndǐng zhōngyuán de yěxīn zhāorán ruò jiē. Chǔ Zhuāng Wáng cǐ jǔ, kěwèi shì bīng bù xuè rèn, biàn zhèn shè le zhōngyuán zhūhóu, ràng tāmen bù gǎn qīng jǔ wàng dòng. Zuìzhōng, Chǔ Zhuāng Wáng yǐ qiángdà de shí lì hé zhèngzhì shǒuwàn, wèndǐng zhōngyuán, chéngwéi chūnqiū wǔ bà zhī yī, kāichuang le Chǔ guó lìshǐ shàng zuì huīhuáng de shíqī.

During the Spring and Autumn period, the vassal states were constantly fighting each other, all wanting to dominate the Central Plains. King Zhuang of Chu was ambitious, and he led his army to the Central Plains. At a banquet, someone asked King Zhuang: “What is your intention in this expedition?” King Zhuang pretended to be mysterious and simply said: “I came here just to see how heavy the nine tripods of the Central Plains are.” As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar. Some people thought King Zhuang was bluffing, while others thought it was a clear sign of his ambition to dominate the Central Plains. King Zhuang’s move shocked the princes of the Central Plains without bloodshed, making them dare not act rashly. In the end, King Zhuang, with his powerful strength and political tactics, dominated the Central Plains and became one of the five hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period, creating the most glorious period in Chu’s history.

Usage

问鼎中原常用来比喻雄心勃勃，想要取得天下，或在某一领域取得统治地位。

Wending zhongyuan chang yong lai biyu xiongxinbobo, xiangyao qude tianxia, huo zai mou yi lingyu qude tongzhidiwei.

“Asking for the tripod of China” is often used to describe great ambition, such as the intention to conquer the world or to gain dominance in a particular field.

Examples

• 秦始皇统一六国后，便开始谋求问鼎中原，建立他的强大帝国。

  Qin Shi Huang tongyi liuguohou, bian kaishi mouqiu wending zhongyuan, jianli ta de qiangda diguo.

  After Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, he began to seek dominance over China, establishing his powerful empire.

• 他野心勃勃，企图问鼎中原，一统天下。

  Ta yexinbobo, qitu wending zhongyuan, yitong tianxia

  He was ambitious and attempted to conquer China and unify the whole country.

Related Idioms

• 称霸

• 逐鹿中原

Opposite Idioms

• 退避三舍

• 安于现状