替天行道
Chinese
to substitute for; to take the place of; to replace to substitute for; to take the place of; to replace; for; on behalf of; to stand in for | day; sky; heaven | to go; to do; capable to go; to do; capable; all right; competent; OK; okay; to travel; temporary; to walk; will do; behavior; conduct; a row; profession; professional | direction; way; method direction; way; method; road; path; principle; truth; reason; skill; Tao (of Taoism); a measure word; to say; to speak; to talk | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (替天行道) | 替 | 天 | 行 | 道 | |
simp. #(替天行道) | 替 | 天 | 行 | 道 |
Etymology
From the Yuan dynasty's zaju play 梁山泊李逵負荊 (Li Kui from Mount Liang's Marsh Offers an Apology) by 康進之 (Kang Jinzhi):
- 杏黃旗上七個字,替天行道救生民。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
- Xìnghuáng qí shàng qī ge zì, tìtiānxíngdào jiùshēng mín. [Pinyin]
- On the apricot-yellow flag are seven characters: Enforce the Way on Behalf of Heaven and Save People's Lives.
杏黄旗上七个字,替天行道救生民。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
Idiom
替天行道
- to enforce justice for the heavens
- 正是:替天行道人將至,仗義疏財漢便來。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
- From: Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14th century CE
- Zhèngshì: Tìtiānxíngdàorén jiāng zhì, zhàngyìshūcáihàn biàn lái. [Pinyin]
- Indeed: The man to enforce the Way on behalf of Heaven is coming; the gallant to finance the upholding of justice will arrive soon.
正是:替天行道人将至,仗义疏财汉便来。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]- 操曰:「吾替天行道,安忍殺戮人民?」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
- From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14th century CE
- Cāo yuē: “Wú tìtiānxíngdào, ān rěn shālù rénmín?” [Pinyin]
- (Cao) Cao said: "I am enforcing the Way on behalf of Heaven, how can I ruthlessly slaughter people?"
操曰:“吾替天行道,安忍杀戮人民?” [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]