Chinese Idiom: 天作之合 (Tian Zuo Zhi He)
English Translation: A Match Made in Heaven
pīn yīn: tiān zuò zhī hé
Idiom Meaning: This idiom is often used to describe a perfect marriage or union that seems destined or blessed by the heavens.
Historical Source: Book of Songs (诗经) – Major Court Hymns (大雅) – The Great Brightness (大明)
Idiom Story
At the end of the Shang Dynasty, the tyrannical and indulgent King Zhou was overthrown by King Wu of Zhou, who allied with eight western lords to defeat the Shang forces in the decisive Battle of Muye. This victory led to the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, with its capital at Haojing, an era known as the Western Zhou.
In the early years of the Western Zhou, the nobility documented this significant event to serve as a moral lesson for future generations. This documentation led to the creation of “The Great Brightness” (大明), one of the historical epic poems of the Zhou tribe. The poem consists of eight chapters and fifty-eight verses.
The first chapter of the poem outlines the Zhou rulers’ belief in the Mandate of Heaven, emphasizing that divine favor is granted to the virtuous. The second chapter describes the virtuous deeds of King Wu’s grandparents, leading to the birth of King Wen, Ji Chang. The third chapter recounts King Wen’s virtuous governance, which attracted allegiance from all quarters. Chapters four, five, and six narrate how King Wen was blessed with a heavenly match, leading to the birth of King Wu, who was destined to overthrow the tyrant King Zhou. The seventh and eighth chapters describe the Battle of Muye and its aftermath.
The fourth chapter of the poem reads:
天监在下，有命既集。文王初载，天作之合。在洽之阳，在渭之溪。文王嘉止，大邦有子。
Translation of the poem:
The sovereign Heaven watches below, its will fulfilled. In the early years of King Wen’s reign, Heaven arranged a perfect union for him. This match was a beautiful woman from a great country, located on the northern bank of the Qia River and along the Wei River.
This chapter suggests that Heaven orchestrated a union for King Wen, blessing him with a wife from a significant state, reinforcing the idea of a heavenly match or “天作之合.”
