Chinese Idiom: 叱咤风云 (Chi Zha Feng Yun)
English Translation: Commanding the winds and clouds with shouts
pīn yīn: chì zhà fēng yún
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a person or action that has a powerful influence over a situation, commanding great respect and authority.
Historical Source: Luo Binwang’s (骆宾王) “Memorial for Xu Jingye” (《为徐敬业讨武瞾檄》), written in 684 AD during the Tang Dynasty.
Idiom Story:
In September 684 AD, during a turbulent period in Tang Dynasty China, Xu Jingye, a disgraced official, led a rebellion against Empress Wu Zetian, who had seized power and was known for her ruthless political maneuvers. Xu Jingye was a descendant of the Tang Dynasty’s founding figures and sought to restore the rightful emperor to the throne.
Luo Binwang, a renowned poet and writer, penned a powerful memorial in support of Xu Jingye’s cause. This document was intended to condemn Empress Wu and rally support for Xu’s rebellion.
The memorial vividly describes the impressive and formidable nature of Xu Jingye’s forces. One section of the text uses dramatic imagery to illustrate their power: “The granaries of Hailing overflow with red millet, endlessly stocked; the yellow banners of Jiangpu herald the imminent restoration of the rightful order. The sound of horse hooves is like the north wind rising, and the sword’s brilliance shines as brightly as the southern star. A single outburst can cause mountains to collapse; a mere command can make the winds and clouds change color. With such forces, no enemy can withstand them; with such determination, no achievement is out of reach.”
After Xu Jingye’s defeat, Luo Binwang’s fate was uncertain – some say he was killed, while others believe he became a monk. Despite his tragic end, Luo Binwang, along with Yang Jiong, Lu Zhaolin, and Wang Bo, is remembered as one of the “Four Great Poets of the Early Tang Dynasty.”
The phrase “叱咤风云” (chì zhà fēng yún) has since come to signify the ability to influence situations dramatically and assertively, reflecting its original sense of commanding great respect and authority.
