Chinese Idiom: 独当一面 (Du Dang Yi Mian)
English Translation: Independently Bearing a Responsibility
pīn yīn: dú dāng yī miàn
Idiom Meaning: It means to be capable of independently taking on or leading a specific area of work.
Historical Source: 《史记 · 留侯世家》 (Records of the Grand Historian: The Family of Liu Hou)
Idiom Story:
The idiom originates from Zhang Liang, known as Liu Hou, whose ancestors were from the Han state. His grandfather, Zhang Kaidi, served as the prime minister to several kings of Han. After the fall of Han, Zhang Liang sought revenge against Qin Shi Huang by hiring an assassin.
After aligning with Liu Bang, Zhang Liang became a key strategist for the early Western Han dynasty. During the Chu-Han Contention, he advised Liu Bang to ally with various local leaders, like Qin Bu and Peng Yue, while also securing Han Xin’s loyalty to build a formidable resistance against Xiang Yu.
In 205 BCE, after a devastating defeat at Pengcheng, Liu Bang lamented that whoever could help him defeat Xiang Yu would be rewarded with the land east of the Guan River. Hearing this, Zhang Liang suggested that they should leverage the strengths of the local leaders and particularly assign Han Xin to handle significant military matters independently. He believed that by enlisting the support of Qin Bu and Peng Yue, they could defeat Xiang Yu’s forces.
Liu Bang accepted Zhang Liang’s plan, leading to successful military campaigns and eventually the defeat of Xiang Yu. The phrase “独当一面” (dú dāng yī miàn) became shorthand for recognizing the capability of a person to take on major responsibilities or leadership roles independently, drawing from the respect for Han Xin’s significant military role during this period.
