Chinese Idiom: 迎刃而解 (Yin Ren Er Jie)
English Translation: Resolve issues as smoothly as a knife cutting through bamboo
pīn yīn: yíng rèn ér jiě
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where problems are solved easily and efficiently.
Historical Source: “Book of Jin” (《晋书》), specifically in the biography of Du Yu (杜预).
Idiom Story:
Du Yu, a prominent figure from Duling (now southeastern Xi’an, Shaanxi), was highly regarded by the Western Jin Emperor Sima Yan. He was appointed as the Grand General of the Southern Town, the highest military officer in the Jingzhou region. In the spring of 279 AD, Emperor Sima Yan mobilized an army of 200,000, launching a six-pronged attack on the Eastern Wu kingdom.
Du Yu commanded a cavalry force and, in just ten days, captured several strategic locations along the Yangtze River, also taking Wu’s general Sun Xin as a prisoner. After these victories, Du Yu convened a meeting with other commanders to discuss their next military actions. Some suggested postponing further attacks until the following winter, fearing the difficulty of quickly conquering a well-established kingdom like Wu, especially with the spring floods making military maneuvers challenging.
However, Du Yu provided a sharp analysis: “Just as the general Le Yi in ancient times seized victory at the Jishi River, allowing him to conquer the strong Qi state, we are now in a position of strength. Our army’s morale is high; like cutting through bamboo, once we break through a few sections, the rest will follow easily without further effort.”
Du Yu successfully persuaded the dissenting commanders to continue their advance. They pressed their advantage, and the Wu army, demoralized, collapsed without a fight. By the following year, the Jin forces captured Wu’s capital, Jianye (present-day Nanjing), leading to the surrender of Wu’s ruler, Sun Hao. This victory marked the end of the tripartite division of power in the late Han Dynasty.
The idiom “迎刃而解” thus symbolizes the effectiveness of decisive action in overcoming challenges, highlighting how a well-timed and forceful approach can lead to swift success.
