Chinese Idiom: 冥顽不灵 (Ming Wan Bu Ling)
English Translation: Stubborn and Unenlightened
pīn yīn: míng wán bù líng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes someone who is foolish and ignorant, unable to understand or comprehend. “冥顽” signifies ignorance and stubbornness, while “灵” refers to intelligence or enlightenment.
Historical Source: The idiom originates from Han Yu’s On the Offering to the Crocodile (《祭鳄鱼文》) during the Tang Dynasty.
Idiom Story:
In his essay On the Offering to the Crocodile, Han Yu details the harm caused by crocodiles in a local river and issues an ultimatum for them to relocate to the South Sea within seven days. He writes:
“如果七天内仍然不愿意迁移，这就是它们最终不肯迁徙的表现，显然是对刺史的命令不屑一顾。不然，那就是鳄鱼冥顽不灵，刺史虽有言，鳄鱼却听不见、理解不了。那些傲视天子命令的官吏，不听劝告而不愿迁移，针对那些愚顽无知、残害人民的生物，理应被捕杀。”
In this passage, Han Yu explains that if the crocodiles refuse to move within the given time frame, it reflects their stubbornness and refusal to heed authority. He argues that such creatures, being ignorant and malevolent, should be dealt with harshly.
Interestingly, despite being naturally oblivious, an unexpected storm and possible underwater earthquake occurred during the ultimatum period. This sudden change in the river’s conditions forced the crocodiles to leave, demonstrating an unforeseen event that contradicted their typical nature.
As a result of this story, the phrase “冥顽不灵” evolved into an idiom representing those who are unyieldingly foolish and resistant to
