止戈為武
Chinese
| to stop; prohibit; till | spear | because of; for; to because of; for; to; act as; take...to be; to be; to do; to serve as; to become | martial; military | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (止戈為武/止戈爲武) | 止 | 戈 | 為/爲 | 武 | |
| simp. (止戈为武) | 止 | 戈 | 为 | 武 | |
Etymology
From the analysis of the character 武 as being composed of 止 (“to stop”) and 戈 (“war”) in Zuozhuan:
- 潘黨曰：「君盍築武軍，而收晉尸以為京觀，臣聞克敵，必示子孫，以無忘武功。」楚子曰：「非爾所知也，夫文，止戈為武。武王克商，作頌曰：『載戢干戈，載櫜弓矢，我求懿德，肆于時夏，允王保之。』」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE
- Pān Dǎng yuē: “Jūn hé zhù wǔjūn, ér shōu Jìn shī yǐwèi jīngguān, chén wén kè dí, bì shì zǐsūn, yǐ wú wàng wǔgōng.” Chǔ zǐ yuē: “Fēi ěr suǒ zhī yě, fú wén, zhǐgēwéiwǔ. Wǔwáng kè Shāng, zuò sòng yuē: ‘Zǎi jí gāngē, zǎi gāo gōngshǐ, wǒ qiú yìdé, sì yú shí xià, yǔn wáng bǎo zhī.’” [Pinyin]
- Pan Dang said to him, 'Why should your lordship not signalize your triumph by making a mound, and collect in it the bodies of the Jinites so as to form a grand monument? I have heard that successful battles should be shown to posterity, so that the prowess of them may not be forgotten." The viscount said, "You do not know what you are talking about. The character for 'prowess' is formed by those for 'to stay' and 'a spear'. When king Wu had subdued Shang, he made the ode, which says, 'He has called in shields and spears; He has returned to their cases bows and arrows. I will seek true virtue, and display it throughout the great land, that as king I may indeed preserve our appointment.'"
潘党曰：“君盍筑武军，而收晋尸以为京观，臣闻克敌，必示子孙，以无忘武功。”楚子曰：“非尔所知也，夫文，止戈为武。武王克商，作颂曰：‘载戢干戈，载櫜弓矢，我求懿德，肆于时夏，允王保之。’” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
Idiom
止戈為武
- to end a war is the true military accomplishment