Chinese Idiom: 暗箭伤人 (An Jian Shang Ren)
English Translation: Hidden Arrows Wound People
pīn yīn: àn jiàn shāng rén
Idiom Meaning: Describes the act of harming others secretly, taking advantage of their unpreparedness.
Historical Source: From Zuo Zhuan (《左传·隐公十一年》).
Idiom Story:
In 712 BC, the Duke of Zheng, Zheng Zhuang Gong, received support from the states of Lu and Qi to launch an attack against the State of Xu (present-day Xuchang, Henan). In May of that year, Zheng Zhuang Gong ordered the creation of a large flag inscribed with the words “奉天讨罪” (Punishing Evil in Heaven’s Name). He planted the flag on a chariot and declared that whoever could capture the flag would become the vanguard and be rewarded with the chariot.
The contest for the flag concluded with an elderly general, Ying Kao Shu, winning both the flag and the chariot. A younger general, Gongsun Zidu (also known as Gongsun Yan), became extremely envious of Ying Kao Shu’s success and harbored resentment.
In July of the same year, Duke Zheng officially ordered the troops to march against Xu, appointing Ying Kao Shu as the general and Gongsun Zidu as the deputy. Gongsun Zidu felt slighted by this arrangement. As the Zheng army approached the capital of Xu, Ying Kao Shu bravely led the charge, holding the flag high as he prepared to attack the city.
At this critical moment, Gongsun Zidu, seeing that Ying Kao Shu was about to achieve glory again, grew even more resentful. He drew his bow and shot an arrow aimed at Ying Kao Shu. The old general fell to the ground, both flag and body tumbling down from the city wall.
Another general, Xia Shu Ying, mistakenly believed that Ying Kao Shu had been killed by enemy fire. Seeking vengeance, he quickly picked up the flag and rallied the soldiers, charging into the city. The king of Xu, Xu Zhuang Gong, disguised himself as a commoner and fled to the state of Wei.
This story led to the derivation of the idiom “暗箭伤人,” which illustrates the concept of secretly harming others from the shadows.
