Chinese Idiom: 举足轻重 (Ju Zu Qing Zhong)
English Translation: One Step Can Tip the Scale
pīn yīn: jǔ zú qīng zhòng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom means that someone holds an important position, where their every action can significantly influence the overall situation.
Historical Source: 后汉书 ·窦融传 (Book of the Later Han, Biography of Dou Rong)
Idiom Story:
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a military general named Dou Rong. At the end of the Xin dynasty, he served as a general and later surrendered to Liu Xuan, becoming the governor of Zhangye. After Liu Xuan’s defeat, Dou Rong allied with five commanderies, including Jiuquan and Dunhuang, establishing himself as a powerful figure known as the General of the Five Commanderies of Hexi.
When Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu ascended to power and the situation in the Central Plains became more stable, Dou Rong sought to align himself with Liu Xiu. He sent his chief clerk, Liu Jun, carrying treasures to pay his respects to Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu was pleased with the gesture and welcomed Dou Rong’s loyalty. He appointed Dou Rong as the governor of Liangzhou, rewarded him with 200 pounds of gold, and wrote him a letter analyzing the political and military situation of the time, praising Dou Rong’s achievements in governing the Five Commanderies of Hexi.
In the letter, Liu Xiu pointed out that, aside from the court and Dou Rong, there were ambitious figures like Gongsun Shu of Yizhou and Kuai Qi of Tianshui who sought to establish their own power. Given this context, Dou Rong’s position was crucial in the unification of the country.
Upon receiving Liu Xiu’s letter, Dou Rong pledged his loyalty to the court. He later led troops to assist the court in quelling the rebellion of Kuai Qi and eliminating Gongsun Shu. As a result, Liu Xiu honored him with the title of Marquis of Anfeng and appointed him as the Grand Minister of Works.
This story highlights how Dou Rong’s actions significantly impacted the political landscape of his time, demonstrating that a single individual’s decisions can have profound effects on the course of history.
