S6E10 | Putting Out The Fire With Gasoline
Saying: “to carry firewood to put out a fire”
Pinyin: Bào Xīn Jiù Huǒ
Chinese: 抱薪救火
Once again, Warring States heavy, Han Feizi, pulls through for us with an excellent chengyu in this Season 6 closer. Bào Xīn Jiù Huǒ 抱薪救火. Sometimes you think you're helping...but all you're doing is making things worse. Our story goes back to the early 3rd century BC rivalry between Qin and Wei. During the reign of pugnacious King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Wei State had to figure out how to survive this ambitious and energized rival kingdom. The King of Wei's advisors offered conflicting advice about how to help the situation. The king finds out later what was supposed to help his state's situation only made things worse.
Many thanks, everyone for taking in this final episode of Season 6. Laszlo and Emma will be back soon with a new and interesting lineup in Season 7.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bào xīn jìu huǒ | 抱薪救火 | To carry firewood to put out a fire, to make matters worse |
| Hán Fēizǐ | 韩非子 | c. 280-233 BC, Chinese Legalist philosopher and statesman during the Warring States period, and a prince of the state of Han |
| Bào | 抱 | to hold or carry in your arms…to embrace or hug |
| Xīn | 薪 | firewood or fuel |
| Jiù | 救 | to rescue or save |
| huǒ | 火 | Fire |
| Kingdom of Qín | 秦国 | Ancient Zhou Era state that lasted from around 897 to 221 BC, afterwhich it became an empire that lasted till 207 BC |
| yuǎn jiāo jìn gōng | 远交近攻 | attacking its near neighbors while making alliances with those further away. This strategy was introduced to the pugnacious Qin King Zhāoxiāng by his loyal and wise minister Fàn Jū 范雎 |
| Qin King Zhāoxiāng | 秦昭襄王 | King of Qin from 306-251 BC |
| Fàn Jū | 范雎 | Special advisor to King Zhaoxiang |
| Kingdom of Wèi | 魏国 | One of the major states of the Eastern Zhou. Wei lasted from 403-225 BC |
| Duàngān Zǐ | 段干子 | An advisor to the King of Wei |
| Nányáng | 南阳 | City in Henan |
| Sū Dài | 苏代 | Another advisor to the King of Wei |
| Dàliáng | 大梁 | Former name of the city of Kāifēng in Hénán province. |
