Chinese Idiom: 一败涂地 (Yi Bai Tu Di)
English Translation: Complete Defeat
pīn yīn: yī bài tú dì
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to a situation where something fails to the extent that it is beyond redemption. “一” (one) means once, and “涂地” (smeared all over the ground) refers to a situation where one’s guts and brains are splattered on the ground, symbolizing a total and devastating defeat.
Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian (Biography of Emperor Gaozu of Han).
Idiom Story: Liu Bang, who later became Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, was originally the chief of Pei County (in present-day Jiangsu) during the Qin Dynasty. At the end of the Qin Dynasty, the magistrate of Pei County sent a group of laborers to Mount Li (southeast of present-day Lintong, Shaanxi) to work on Qin Shi Huang’s tomb, with Liu Bang in charge of escorting them. Along the way, many laborers escaped, making it impossible for Liu Bang to complete his task. Facing punishment, Liu Bang decided to release the remaining workers and fled to the mountains of Mang and Dang (Mang Mountain is north of Dangshan, and Dangshan is southeast of present-day Dangshan County, Anhui) with a few followers, where he organized an armed rebellion.
In 209 BCE, after Chen Sheng and Wu Guang initiated an uprising in Daze Village (present-day Xiaoliucun, south of Suzhou, Anhui), the magistrate of Pei County also considered joining the rebellion. He consulted with Xiao He, a scribe, and Cao Shen, a jailer. Xiao He and Cao Shen argued that as a government official, the magistrate would lose credibility if he switched sides without support. They suggested bringing Liu Bang back and granting him amnesty to gain popular support. The magistrate agreed, and Fan Kuai was sent to bring Liu Bang back.
When Liu Bang and Fan Kuai returned with a hundred men, the magistrate, fearing these outsiders wouldn’t follow his orders, closed the city gates. Liu Bang then wrote a letter, tied it to an arrow, and shot it into the city, urging the people to unite, kill the magistrate, and join the rebellion. The townsfolk killed the magistrate, opened the gates, and welcomed Liu Bang, asking him to be their leader. Liu Bang modestly declined, saying, “In these troubled times, if the wrong leader is chosen, we will face complete ruin. I fear my abilities are insufficient to protect you all. Please choose someone more suitable.”
Despite his initial reluctance, Liu Bang eventually accepted the leadership role.
From this story, the idiom “complete defeat” (一败涂地) emerged, symbolizing an utter and irreversible failure.
