Chinese Idiom: 李代桃僵 (Li Dai Tao Jiang)
English Translation: Li replaces the withered peach
pīn yīn: lǐ dài táo jiāng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the idea of one person suffering in place of another, reflecting the bond of unity and camaraderie. It can also signify mutual substitution between individuals.
Historical Source: Yuefu Shi – Ji Ming (乐府诗·鸡鸣).
Idiom Story:
During the feudal era, power struggles and intrigues were commonplace among the ruling classes. The poem Ji Ming (《鸡鸣》) subtly depicts a wealthy family where the brothers maintain a facade of harmony while secretly harboring jealousy toward one another. When one brother encounters misfortune, the others do not come to his aid; instead, they either gloat or take advantage of the situation.
The poem concludes with the lines:
“桃生露井上，李树生桃旁；
虫来啮桃根，李树代桃僵。”
(Translation: “A peach tree grows by the well, with a li tree beside it;
When pests gnaw at the peach tree’s roots, the li tree suffers in its place.”)
These lines convey the idea that while the li tree does not suffer from the pests, it empathizes with the peach tree and withers instead. This illustrates the idea of solidarity and concern among living beings. However, the poem criticizes brothers who, unlike these trees, forget their fraternal bonds entirely.
Thus, from the phrase “虫来啮桃根，李树代桃僵,” people derived the idiom “李代桃僵,” highlighting the theme of self-sacrifice and the betrayal of kinship that can occur even among the closest of relations.
