Chinese Idiom: 百折不挠 (Bai Zhe Bu Nao)
English Translation: Unyielding despite a hundred setbacks
pīn yīn: bǎi zhé bù náo
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a strong character that remains steadfast and refuses to yield or retreat, no matter how many setbacks one faces.
Historical Source: 《蔡中郎集·太尉桥玄碑》 (Cai Zhonglang Ji · Stele of General Qiao Xuan).
Idiom Story:
Qiao Xuan (桥玄) was a resident of Suiyang during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Known for his integrity and hatred of evil, he was courageous in his battles against wrongdoers.
In his youth, Qiao Xuan served as an official in his county. One day, the governor of Yuzhou, Zhou Jing, visited Suiyang. Qiao Xuan seized the opportunity to report the crimes of Yang Chang, the prime minister of Chen Guo, urging Zhou Jing to take action. Zhou Jing agreed, and Qiao Xuan immediately arrested all of Yang Chang’s guests to investigate his crimes thoroughly.
When Yang Chang’s ally, the powerful general Liang Yi, learned of this, he sent a messenger to rescue Yang Chang and even received an imperial edict instructing Zhou Jing to recall Qiao Xuan. However, Qiao Xuan returned the edict and insisted on pursuing the case, ultimately leading to Yang Chang’s punishment. This act earned him widespread fame.
During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, Qiao Xuan was appointed Shangshu Ling (尚书令) and discovered that Gai Sheng, a high-ranking official, was corrupt and amassed wealth through bribery while serving as the governor of Nanyang. Qiao Xuan reported this to Emperor Ling, demanding that Gai Sheng be dismissed and his assets confiscated. Instead of addressing the issue, Emperor Ling promoted Gai Sheng, leading Qiao Xuan to resign due to illness and return to his hometown.
While serving in the capital, an incident occurred when Qiao Xuan’s ten-year-old son was playing outside and was suddenly kidnapped by three robbers, who fled to his home and demanded ransom. The news spread, prompting the constable Yang Qiu to seek assistance from local authorities to surround Qiao Xuan’s house.
Fearing harm to the child, Yang Qiu hesitated to attack. However, Qiao Xuan boldly shouted, “Can we allow these evil bandits to act with impunity just because of my child?” He urged Yang Qiu to take action, resulting in the robbers being killed, but unfortunately, his son also lost his life in the process.
When Qiao Xuan died, his family was left with little wealth, and his funeral was simple. His indomitable spirit and determination were widely praised. The renowned Eastern Han writer Cai Yong (蔡邕) remarked in the Stele of General Qiao Xuan: “His demeanor was serious, and he detested extravagance while advocating for frugality, embodying the spirit of being unyielding in the face of adversity, steadfast in his principles.”
