Chinese Idiom: 百感交集 (Bai Gan Jiao Ji)
English Translation: A hundred feelings mingle together
pīn yīn: bǎi gǎn jiāo jí
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a state where numerous emotions and thoughts are intertwined, reflecting a complex and deeply felt sentiment.
Historical Source: 《世说新语·言语》 (Shishuo Xinyu · Words and Phrases).
Idiom Story:
During the reign of Emperor Huai of Jin (晋怀帝), Wei Jie (卫蚧) served as the Tai Zi Xi Ma (太子洗马), an official responsible for attending to the Crown Prince. Wei Jie was known for his profound understanding of the I Ching (《易经》) and Laozi (《老子》), and his speeches were deeply insightful.
At this time, the Western Jin Dynasty was plagued by internal conflicts. The prolonged “Eight Princes Rebellion” (八王之乱) had caused severe suffering to both the state and its people. Seizing the opportunity, the Xiongnu noble Liu Yu (刘裕) launched invasions into the Jin territory. In the third year of Yongjia (309 AD), Xiongnu forces made two major invasions into the capital, Luoyang, but were repelled each time by the Jin army.
Facing the turmoil, Wei Jie decided to relocate his family to the south. His brother Wei Zao (卫躁) held a position in the court, and their mother was reluctant to part with him. Wei Jie persuaded her to prioritize the family’s future, eventually convincing her to agree to the move.
In the fourth year of Yongjia, Wei Jie bade farewell to his brother and left Luoyang, traveling south with his mother and wife. Wei Jie was frail and ill, and the journey was grueling. When they were about to cross the Yangtze River, his appearance was worn and haggard. He expressed to those around him, “Seeing this vast expanse of river water, my heart is overwhelmed with a hundred emotions. How can anyone, possessing feelings, possibly dispel such myriad thoughts and sentiments?”
Due to the ongoing turmoil, Wei Jie was unable to settle down peacefully in the south. Shortly after crossing the river, his wife passed away. Wei Jie eventually reached Jiankang (modern-day Nanjing, Jiangsu Province), where he died of illness in the sixth year of Yongjia (312 AD), at the young age of 27.
