Chinese Idiom: 一鸣惊人 (Yi Ming Jing Ren)
English Translation: A Sudden Startling Achievement
pīn yīn: yī míng jīng rén
Idiom Meaning: Refers to someone who is usually unnoticed but suddenly achieves something extraordinary. “鸣” means to make a sound or to call out; “惊人” means to surprise or startle.
Historical Source: “Records of the Grand Historian: The Biographies of the Laughter-Makers.”
Idiom Story: During the Warring States period, King Wei of Qi had been on the throne for three years. The king was absorbed in pleasure and ignored state affairs, leaving important matters to his ministers. As a result, the Qi state was in disarray and faced defeats by Han, Zhao, and Wei, with the nation’s survival at risk. Despite their concerns, officials dared not admonish the king.
At this time, there was a minister named Chunyu Kun, known for his wit and humor. Observing that previous attempts to advise the king had failed, Chunyu Kun realized that King Wei had a penchant for riddles. He decided to use this to his advantage. During one morning audience, Chunyu Kun presented the king with a riddle: “I have heard that there is a great bird in Qi’s palace that has stayed there for three years without flying or making a sound. Can Your Majesty guess what this bird is called?”
King Wei, understanding that Chunyu Kun was referring to himself, replied with a smile, “If this bird does not fly, it is acceptable; if it does, it should soar to the sky. If it does not make a sound, it is acceptable; if it does, it should startle the world.”
This riddle spurred King Wei to take action. He began personally managing state affairs, implementing significant reforms. He gathered all county governors for evaluation, rewarding those who contributed to production and punishing those who hindered it. He reorganized the military, fortified the borders, and personally led campaigns against Wei’s invading forces. The other states were astonished and returned the land they had taken from Qi. King Wei also appointed the capable Zou Ji as Prime Minister and the renowned military strategist Sun Bin as commander, leading Qi to a path of national strength and prosperity.
The phrase “a sudden startling achievement” thus emerged, symbolizing an impressive and unexpected accomplishment after a period of silence.
