Zhao Gao - Calling A Deer A Horse

Calling A Deer A Horse

One Chinese idiom that is derived from an incident involving Zhao is "calling a deer a horse" (simplified Chinese: 指鹿为马; traditional Chinese: 指鹿為馬; pinyin: zhǐ lù wéi mǎ), meaning "deliberate misrepresentation for ulterior purposes". The Shiji records that Zhao, in an attempt to control the government, devised a loyalty test for court officials using a deer and horse:

Zhao Gao was contemplating treason but was afraid the other officials would not heed his commands, so he decided to test them first. He brought a deer and presented it to the Second Emperor but called it a horse. The Second Emperor laughed and said, "Is the chancellor perhaps mistaken, calling a deer a horse?" Then the emperor questioned those around him. Some remained silent, while some, hoping to ingratiate themselves with Zhao Gao, said it was a horse, and others said it was a deer. Zhao Gao secretly arranged for all those who said it was a deer to be brought before the law. Thereafter the officials were all terrified of Zhao Gao. (tr. Watson 1993:70)

Read more about this topic:  Zhao Gao

Famous quotes containing the words calling a, calling, deer and/or horse:

    Calling a taxi in Texas is like calling a rabbi in Iraq.
    Fran Lebowitz (b. 1950)

    It is as real
    as splinters stuck in your ear. The noise we steal
    is half a bell. And outside cars whisk by on the suburban street
    and are there and are true.
    What else is this, this intricate shape of air?
    calling me, calling you.
    Anne Sexton (1928–1974)

    Shall the dog lie where the deer once crouched?
    Nell Gwynn (c. 1650–1687)

    A horse is dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle.
    Ian Fleming (1908–1964)