Chinese Idiom: 掩目捕雀 (Yan Mu Bu Que)
English Translation: Covering one’s eyes to catch a sparrow
pīn yīn: yǎn mù bǔ què
Idiom Meaning: Refers to the futility of self-deception; also signifies a subjective approach to problems without proper investigation or research.
Historical Source:
Idiom Story:
During the late Eastern Han period, the external relatives and eunuchs were engaged in a power struggle, leading to years of turmoil. In 189 AD, after the death of Emperor Ling (Liu Hong), his son Emperor Sha (Liu Bian) ascended the throne, and Empress Dowager He took charge of the state affairs. He Jin, the Grand General, sought to eliminate the powerful eunuchs and influence the court, but Empress Dowager He opposed this. As a result, He Jin secretly summoned military leaders from various regions to pressure her under the pretense of the emperor’s authority.
Chen Lin, a scribe under He Jin, learned of this plan and warned him against it. He cited a saying, “One cannot catch a sparrow with closed eyes,” emphasizing that even a small bird cannot be caught if one is blind. He argued that if such trivial matters could not be handled through deceit, how could one hope to manipulate significant state affairs through fraud?
Chen Lin further analyzed the situation, cautioning He Jin that the military leaders would not comply with his commands once they entered the capital. He compared this to handing over the hilt of a sword to someone else, leaving oneself vulnerable to attack.
Despite Chen Lin’s advice, He Jin disregarded his warnings and continued with his plans. Ultimately, he failed, was killed by the eunuchs, and the Eastern Han power fell into the hands of one of the summoned military leaders, Dong Zhuo.
