Chinese Idiom: 价值连城 (Jia Zhi Lian Cheng)
English Translation: Worth a city
pīn yīn: jià zhí lián chéng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes something that is extremely valuable or precious.
Historical Source: 《史记·廉颇蔺相如列传》 (Records of the Grand Historian · Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru).
Idiom Story:
The biography of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru recounts the significant events and interactions between these two historical figures during the Warring States period. The narrative primarily focuses on Lin Xiangru’s achievements, including the famous story of the He Shi Bi (He Shi Jade) and his encounters with the powerful Qin State.
During the reign of King Wei of Zhao, the state acquired the He Shi Bi, a priceless jade piece originally discovered by the Chu people. When King Zhaoxiang of Qin learned of its existence, he sent a message to Zhao, proposing to exchange fifteen cities for the jade.
As the Zhao court debated how to respond, General Lian Po and other officials were uncertain whether to accept the Qin’s offer or not, fearing that they might be deceived and end up losing the jade without gaining the promised cities. The dilemma of whether to concede or resist posed a significant challenge for Zhao.
Amidst this uncertainty, Tian Xian, a eunuch at the Zhao court, recommended Lin Xiangru as an envoy to negotiate with Qin. Upon being summoned by the king, Lin argued that given the strength of Qin and the weakness of Zhao, they should consider the offer. He reasoned that if Zhao refused, they would be seen as in the wrong, whereas if they accepted and Qin failed to deliver, the blame would rest on Qin.
Lin Xiangru volunteered to undertake the risky mission, stating:
“I am willing to carry the He Shi Bi to Qin. If Qin delivers the fifteen cities, the jade will remain there; if not, I will ensure the jade returns to Zhao intact.”
When Lin arrived in Qin, he quickly realized that the Qin king had no intention of honoring the exchange. Using his cunning, he managed to retrieve the jade without surrendering it and concealed it on his person. Lin returned to Zhao, fully aware that he could be punished for his actions.
Ultimately, the Qin king, recognizing the value of maintaining good relations with Zhao, chose not to execute Lin and instead treated him honorably, allowing him to return safely.
This story of Lin Xiangru’s cleverness and dedication led to the idiom “价值连城,” illustrating how priceless and treasured the He Shi Bi was, akin to being worth an entire city.
