Chinese Idiom: 天府之国 (Tian Fu Zhi Guo)
English Translation: Land of Heavenly Abundance
pīn yīn: tiān fǔ zhī guó
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to a region that is fertile and rich in resources. It is often used as a nickname for Sichuan Province in China. “天府” means “natural granary” and “国” means “region.”
Historical Source: “Records of the Grand Historian” (《史记》), Chapter on the Marquis of Liu (留侯世家).
Idiom Story
Zhang Liang, one of the three outstanding figures who assisted Liu Bang in founding the Han Dynasty, is celebrated for his wisdom and strategic prowess. Among the three, Han Xin had the greatest military achievements but was eventually executed due to Liu Bang’s suspicions. Xiao He, despite being acknowledged as the top meritorious official, also faced imprisonment and nearly met the same fate. Zhang Liang, however, remained respected by Liu Bang throughout his life. This was due not only to his intelligence and adaptability but also to his humility and avoidance of power and wealth.
In 201 BCE, during the sixth year of Liu Bang’s reign as Emperor Gaozu of Han, he rewarded his meritorious officials. Although Zhang Liang did not have direct military achievements, Liu Bang acknowledged his strategic contributions by saying, “Devising strategies in the tent that led to victories a thousand miles away is Zhang Liang’s greatest achievement. Let him choose 30,000 households in the Qi region as his fief.” Zhang Liang modestly declined, requesting instead to be enfeoffed with just 10,000 households in the Liu region, thus becoming the Marquis of Liu.
After Liu Bang became emperor and rewarded his officials, there was a debate on where to establish the capital. Most of Liu Bang’s ministers, being from the former six states, advocated for Luoyang. However, the strategist Liu Jing suggested establishing the capital in Guanzhong. The ministers argued that Luoyang was superior due to its strategic location, surrounded by mountains and rivers, making it easy to defend.
Liu Bang, uncertain, sought Zhang Liang’s advice. Zhang Liang explained:
“Although Luoyang has strategic terrain, it is small and limited in area, only a few hundred miles in circumference, with poor soil and surrounded by enemies on all sides. It is not a suitable place for military operations. On the other hand, Guanzhong, bordered by the Xiaoshan and Hangu Pass to the left and the Long and Shu Mountains to the right, has vast and fertile lands stretching thousands of miles. It is rich in resources from the Ba and Shu regions to the south and the pastoral lands of the northern frontier. With natural defenses on three sides, it only needs to control the east to manage the vassal states. If the vassals are peaceful, we can use the Yellow River and Wei River to transport goods throughout the empire to supply the capital. If the vassals rebel, we can swiftly move troops downstream with ample provisions. This is truly a land of golden cities and heavenly abundance. Liu Jing’s suggestion is correct.”
Following this advice, Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang decided to establish the capital in Guanzhong.
This narrative demonstrates the wisdom of Zhang Liang in advising Liu Bang to choose Guanzhong as the capital, highlighting its strategic and economic advantages, thus earning it the moniker “Land of Heavenly Abundance.”
