Chinese Idiom: 铤而走险 (Ting Er Zou Xian)
English Translation: Take risks in a desperate situation
pīn yīn: tíng ér zǒu xiǎn
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes taking a risky action when there are no options left or when one has no other choice. 铤 (tǐng) means to walk quickly; 走险 means to rush into danger.
Historical Source: Zuo Zhuan (左传) – “The Zuo Commentary on Spring and Autumn Annals”, Year 17 of Duke Wen.
Idiom Story:
In 610 BC, Duke Ling of Jin gathered to hold an alliance with King Zhuang of Chu to compete for the leadership among the feudal lords. However, the ruler of Zheng State, Duke Mu of Zheng, did not attend the meeting. Duke Ling was furious and suspected that Zheng harbored ill intentions toward Jin.
In response, Zheng Zijiang (Prince Guisheng) wrote a letter to Zhao Xuanzi, the chief minister of Jin, explaining the reasons for Duke Mu’s absence from the alliance meeting. The letter provided numerous facts to illustrate Zheng’s historical respect and submission to Jin, despite Jin’s failure to reciprocate. He warned that if Jin continued to press for demands, the small state of Zheng would inevitably be destroyed by Jin.
The letter further stated: “The ancients have said, ‘When one is afraid of both ends, what remains for the body?’ It is also said, ‘A deer in distress chooses no sound.’ The affairs of small states depend on great states. If the great state is virtuous, then the small state is like a person; if it is not virtuous, the small state is like a deer. When pressed too hard, like a deer chased to desperation, we have no time to choose a safe refuge. If you drive us to the wall, we will either seek protection from Chu or muster all our strength to await the arrival of the Jin army at our borders.”
In essence, Zheng was trapped between the fears of both Chu and Jin, akin to a dying deer with no refuge to escape to, illustrating the dire circumstances that lead to desperate actions.
