Chinese Idiom: 闻所未闻 (Wen Suo Wei Wen)
English Translation: Hearing What Has Never Been Heard
pīn yīn: wén suǒ wèi wén
Idiom Meaning: This idiom metaphorically refers to hearing novel and previously unknown things. It signifies encountering new ideas or information that one has not come across before.
Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian: Biography of Li Sheng and Lu Jia (史记 · 郦生陆贾列传)
Idiom Story:
Lu Jia was a man from the region of Chu during the Warring States period. As a retainer, he accompanied Liu Bang, the founder of the Han dynasty, in his quest to pacify the world. Sima Qian, in his biography of Lu Jia, praised him as “truly one of the great orators of his time.”
Once Liu Bang became emperor, Lu Jia became one of his trusted advisors, often sent on diplomatic missions to various feudal lords. After Liu Bang established the Han dynasty, Lu Jia was dispatched twice to Nanyue (an ancient kingdom located in what is now northern Vietnam and parts of southern China) and successfully persuaded King Wei Tu (Wang Yituo) to submit to the Han authority.
Wang Yituo, originally named Zhao Tuo, was a native of Zhen Ding (modern-day Zhengding County, Hebei). At the end of the Qin dynasty, he served as the magistrate of Longchuan County (present-day Longchuan County, Guangdong) and later as the captain of Nanhai Commandery, thus earning the name “Wei Tuo.” During the conflict between Chu and Han, he took the opportunity to merge the commanderies of Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiang, declaring himself King of Nanyue. After Liu Bang pacified the central plains, he sent Lu Jia to grant Wang Yituo a seal, formally recognizing him as King of Nanyue.
Initially, Wang Yituo was reluctant to acknowledge the Han dynasty and treated Lu Jia disrespectfully. In response, Lu Jia explained the situation, stating, “You are originally from the central plains, and your family and ancestral graves are still in Zhen Ding. How can you possibly contend with the emperor of the central plains with your small territory of Yue? Disaster is imminent. Just imagine, if the court sends a deputy general with 100,000 troops to your newly established and unstable kingdom, the Yue people will rise up and kill you, easily opting to surrender to the Han!”
After hearing Lu Jia’s words, Wang Yituo apologized, saying, “I have been living among the barbaric tribes for so long that I have completely forgotten the etiquette of the central plains.” Lu Jia then elaborated on the importance of accepting the imperial seal, exchanging envoys, and maintaining friendly relations with the Han court. Wang Yituo grew fond of Lu Jia, inviting him to drink and converse, leading to several months of camaraderie.
Wang Yituo lamented, “In Yue, there is no one with whom I can communicate. Since your arrival, I have been hearing things I have never heard before every day.”
This story embodies the essence of “闻所未闻,” illustrating how the exchange of ideas can bring fresh perspectives and knowledge, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.
