Synopsis
A famous Chinese idiom meaning to burn one's bridges and commit fully to a goal. Originates from Xiang Yu's army in 207 BCE.
Meaning
Po Fu Chen Zhou (破釜沉舟) literally means to break cooking cauldrons and sink boats. It describes the determination to commit fully to a goal with no retreat.
Origin
From Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Xiang Yu: "Xiang Yu led all his troops across the river, then sank all boats, broke all cooking pots, burned all shelters, and carried only three days of rations to show his soldiers they must fight to the death."
The Story
In 207 BCE, during the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the Qin general Zhang Han besieged the state of Zhao at Julu. Xiang Yu was sent with a rescue army. After crossing the Zhang River, he ordered all boats sunk, cooking pots smashed, camps burned, and soldiers to carry only three days of food. This showed there was no turning back. The Chu army fought with unmatched ferocity, winning nine consecutive battles and defeating the Qin army at Julu.
Historical Context
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 207 BCE |
| Location | Julu (modern Pingxiang, Hebei) |
| Key Figure | Xiang Yu |
| Source | Records of the Grand Historian |
| Outcome | Chu army defeated Qin |
Modern Usage
This idiom is widely used in modern Chinese to describe burning one's bridges and committing fully to a course of action, whether in business, exams, or entrepreneurship.
References
- Sima Qian, Records of the Grand Historian
- Dictionary of Chinese Idioms
- Lin Geng, Brief History of Chinese Literature
Comments (0)