Chu Chu Mao Lu – Just emerged from the thatched cottage

Chu Chu Mao Lu Just Emerged From The Thatched Cottage

Chinese Idiom: 初出茅庐 (Chu Chu Mao Lu)

English Translation: Just emerged from the thatched cottage

pīn yīn: chū chū máo lú

Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to describe someone who has just entered society or started a job, lacking experience and expertise.

Historical Source: Romance of the Three Kingdoms (《三国演义》), specifically Chapter 39.

Idiom Story:

In the year 207 AD, Liu Bei, having made three earnest visits to invite Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮), finally succeeded in persuading him to leave his thatched cottage in Longzhong and assist him as a military strategist. Shortly after Zhuge Liang joined Liu Bei’s camp, a crisis arose: Cao Cao sent his general Xiahou Dun (夏侯惇) with an army of 100,000 troops to attack Xin Ye (now Xin Ye County, Henan).

At that time, Liu Bei’s forces were minimal, consisting of only a few thousand men, making the situation extremely dire. Recognizing the arrogance and underestimation of the enemy, Zhuge Liang devised a strategy that involved luring the enemy into a trap and winning through unexpected tactics. He ordered Guan Yu (关羽) and Zhang Fei (张飞) to set an ambush along the route that Cao’s troops would take to Xin Ye. Meanwhile, he instructed Zhao Yun (赵云) to engage the enemy forces, permitting only a tactical retreat to draw them deeper into the trap.

As predicted, Cao Cao’s soldiers fell for the ruse and pursued Zhao Yun until they reached the dense and marshy terrain of Bo Wang Po at dusk. Suddenly, a fire broke out, creating chaos in Cao’s ranks. With the ambush in full swing, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei emerged from hiding, resulting in a devastating defeat for Xiahou Dun and his army.

In the aftermath, a poem was composed to praise Zhuge Liang’s effective command during this battle:

“Holding Bo Wang with fire as a weapon, commanding as desired with ease;
Must frighten Cao Gong’s heart, the first achievement just out of the cottage.”

From this story, the phrase “初出茅庐” emerged to highlight Zhuge Liang’s initial but impactful foray into military strategy, indicating that even someone new to a field can achieve remarkable success. Today, the idiom serves as a reminder that inexperienced individuals can still make significant contributions.

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