The idiom story and detailed meaning of "Qian Lü Ji Qiong" (The Guizhou Donkey Exhausts Its Tricks)
The literal meaning of "Qian Lü Ji Qiong" is that the donkey appears mighty, but in fact it has no real ability and is strong on the outside but weak inside. When it meets the tiger of Qian, it is simply bitten to death. This reflects the courage of the tiger of Qian, and also reveals a truth: things that appear powerful are not to be feared; as long as one dares to struggle and is good at struggling, one can certainly defeat them. It is mostly used to satirize people who are outwardly impressive but inwardly weak, without virtue or talent. It is a derogatory term meaning that one's limited skills have been exhausted. Now let us take a look below!
The story of "Qian Lü Ji Qiong"
There were no donkeys in Qian. A busybody brought one in by boat. When it arrived, there was no use for it, so he released it at the foot of the mountain. A tiger saw it. It was a huge creature, and the tiger took it for a god, hiding in the woods to peek at it. Gradually the tiger came out and drew near, cautious and uncertain, not knowing what it was.
Another day, the donkey brayed once. The tiger was greatly frightened and fled far away, thinking it was about to bite him, and was very afraid. However, going back and forth to observe it, he felt it had no special ability. He became more accustomed to its sound, and again came near it, appearing in front and behind, but in the end did not dare to fight it. Drawing a little closer, he became more familiar with it, leaning on it, bumping into it, and offending it. The donkey could not endure its anger and kicked with its hoof. The tiger was then delighted, and calculated: “Its skill stops here!” So it leaped up with a great roar, bit through its throat, ate all its flesh, and then left.
Alas! Its huge form seemed like virtue, and its loud voice seemed like ability. If it had not shown its skill, even though the tiger was fierce, it would have been doubtful and afraid, and in the end would not have dared to take it. Now it has come to this. How sad!
Translation of "Qian Lü Ji Qiong"
In the place of Qian (Qian here refers to Guizhou), there originally were no donkeys. A busybody used a boat to transport one into this place. After it arrived, there was no use for it, so he placed it at the foot of the mountain. A tiger saw it was a huge creature and treated it as a god, hiding in the woods to secretly watch it. The tiger gradually came out cautiously to approach it, not knowing what it was.
One day, the donkey brayed once. The tiger was very frightened and fled far away, thinking the donkey was going to bite him, and was extremely afraid. But the tiger observed it back and forth and felt it had no special ability. The tiger gradually became familiar with the donkey's bray, and again approached it from front and back, but never fought it. The tiger gradually drew closer to the donkey, with a more familiar and less solemn attitude, leaning on it, bumping into it, and offending it. The donkey was very angry and kicked the tiger with its hoof. The tiger was then very happy, and calculated: “The donkey's skill is only this!” So it jumped up with a great roar, bit through the donkey's throat, ate all its flesh, and only then left.
Alas! Its huge appearance seemed to suggest virtue, and its loud voice seemed to suggest ability. If the tiger at first could not see the donkey's ability, even though the tiger was fierce, being suspicious and fearful, it ultimately would not have dared to seize the donkey. Now such an end. How sad!
The meaning of "Qian Lü Ji Qiong"
The author's purpose in writing was to satirize certain high-ranking figures in the ruling group of the time who held prominent offices, bullied others by relying on power, and yet had no talent or virtue and were outwardly strong but inwardly weak. The moral of this text can be understood both from the angle of the donkey being eaten by the tiger and from the opposite angle of the tiger eating the donkey.
1. From the tiger's angle: things that appear powerful are not frightening; in fact, they are not frightening. As long as one dares to struggle and is good at struggling, one can certainly defeat them. But when facing a sudden enemy, one must not struggle rashly. One should investigate deeply and probe the details, and only when one has grasped detailed information about the enemy should one attack its vital point, so as to be sure of victory.
2. From the donkey's angle: we cannot be people without talent or virtue, outwardly strong but inwardly weak, with only an intimidating aura. We must have real learning and ability. To survive in an environment of survival of the fittest, we must have self-knowledge, and when facing a strong enemy, we must respond calmly and seek a way to survive through wisdom.
3. From the busybody's angle: this alludes to certain bureaucrats who ignore the actual situation and rashly introduce things, causing talent to be wasted and stifled.