Chinese Idiom: 同心同德 (Tong Xin Tong De)
English Translation: To be of one mind and one will
pīn yīn: tóng xīn tóng dé
Idiom Meaning: This idiom means to work together with unified thoughts and beliefs toward a common goal or objective. It emphasizes shared determination and mutual support in achieving a common aim.
Historical Source: 《古文尚书 · 泰誓》 (The Book of Documents: The Oath of Tai).
Idiom Story:
According to 《古文尚书 · 泰誓》 (The Oath of Tai), during the late Shang Dynasty, the ruling king, King Zhou of Shang, was notorious for his tyrannical and extravagant behavior, which led to widespread dissatisfaction among the lords and common people. Among the discontented was a noble named Ji Chang, who would later become King Wen of Zhou. He was known for his wise governance and held great respect among the people.
When Ji Chang’s son, Ji Fa, who would become King Wu of Zhou, ascended to the throne, he formed an alliance with eight smaller states in the west to rise against the Shang Dynasty. Before leading his army into battle, Ji Fa reviewed his troops and delivered a speech, enumerating King Zhou’s various crimes and calling for unity and concerted effort in their campaign.
In his oath, known as 《泰誓》 (The Oath of Tai), Ji Fa declared: “Although King Zhou rules over countless people and has many soldiers and officials, they are not united in their loyalty to him. I, however, have only ten loyal ministers who assist me with a unified heart and purpose.”
This statement highlighted that despite the large number of King Zhou’s followers, their loyalty was fractured, whereas Ji Fa’s small group of loyal supporters were united in their mission.
Eventually, the Zhou army, largely composed of common people who were previously enslaved, rebelled against the Shang forces. When the Zhou army attacked, the enslaved soldiers defected, leading to the fall of the Shang capital, Chaoge (present-day Qi County, Henan). King Zhou was forced to commit suicide, marking the end of the Shang Dynasty and the rise of the Zhou Dynasty.
The phrase “同心同德” (to be of one mind and one will) later became a popular idiom to describe a unified and cooperative effort towards a common goal.
