黃袍加身

See also: 黄袍加身

Chinese

to add; plus
 
body; torso; person; life; status; pregnancy; (a measure word used for clothes) suit
trad. (黃袍加身) 黃袍
simp. (黄袍加身) 黄袍
Literally: “to add to oneself a yellow robe; to drape oneself with a yellow robe”.

Etymology

The idiom comes from the event in 960 when military commander Zhao Kuangyin removed child emperor Guo Zongxun from the throne and proclaimed himself a new emperor after being presented an imperial dragon robe by his subordinates.

After becoming emperor, Zhao, for fear that military figures might betray him like he betraying his emperor, invited them to a wine banquet and successfully persuaded them to retire. This happened in 961 and gave rise to another idiom, 杯酒釋兵權杯酒释兵权 (bēi jiǔ shì bīng quán).

Pronunciation


Idiom

黃袍加身

  1. to stage a coup d'état; overthrow a government; take the throne
  2. to be crowned (as a monarch, ruler, winner, champion, etc.)
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