Chinese Idiom: 投笔从戎 (Tou Bi Cong Rong)
English Translation: Throw down the brush and join the army
pīn yīn: tóu bǐ cóng róng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom signifies abandoning literary pursuits to pursue a military career. It also reflects a person’s determination and ambition.
Historical Source: Book of the Later Han (《后汉书·班超传》).
Idiom Story:
Ban Chao was a native of Fufeng Pingling (modern-day northwest Xianyang, Shaanxi) during the Eastern Han Dynasty. From a young age, he harbored great ambitions to serve his country and make significant contributions. Known for his diligence, Ban Chao worked hard at home and didn’t shy away from tasks others deemed humiliating. He was eloquent and had read various Confucian texts.
Ban Chao’s elder brother, Ban Gu, was well-educated and was summoned to the capital, Luoyang, as a historian in 62 AD. Ban Chao and their mother followed him, but the family’s income was limited, leading Ban Chao to take on a job transcribing official documents to support the household. This tedious work left him feeling unfulfilled and constrained.
One day, while engrossed in his transcription, he became frustrated and exclaimed, “A true man should aspire to achieve great feats, just like Fu Jiezi and Zhang Qian, who made significant contributions in foreign lands. How can one spend their life idling with brushes and ink?” Fu Jiezi and Zhang Qian were renowned figures from the Western Han who expanded the territory and established merit for the state.
Those around him laughed, considering his aspirations fanciful. Ban Chao, undeterred, merely sighed, saying, “You short-sighted individuals cannot comprehend the ambitions of a true hero.”
Years passed, and in 73 AD, the Xiongnu tribes began to threaten the Eastern Han. Ban Chao resolutely decided to leave his literary pursuits behind and enlisted in the army. Serving under General Dou Gu, he demonstrated bravery and strategic skill, achieving many victories. After Dou Gu’s successful campaigns, he recommended Ban Chao to Emperor Ming of Han, who dispatched him to the Western Regions (covering parts of modern Gansu, Xinjiang, and Central Asia).
Ban Chao dedicated his life to developing the Western Regions, using his intelligence and courage to forge alliances with various states, significantly enhancing the social stability of the Han Dynasty and fostering cultural and economic exchanges between the Western Regions and the heartland.
In recognition of his contributions, the Eastern Han dynasty honored him with the title of “Dingyuan Marquis.”
