🌏 English Definition 🔊⏹

1. A metaphor for betraying the royal family. From *Zuo Zhuan·Zhao Gong Year 9*: 'The king sent Zhan Huan Bo to say to Jin: '...I dwell in my uncle as clothes have crowns, wood and water have roots, and the people have rulers. If my uncle tears the crown, destroys the coronet, uproots the roots, blocks the source, and discards his ruler, even among the Rong and Di, what would remain of just one person like me?'' From *Nan Shi·Chronicles of Qi, Vol. 1·Gao Emperor*: 'Guiyang betrayed the people, lightly concerning the Nine Tripod Cauldrons, tore the crown, destroyed the coronet, uprooted the roots and blocked the source, fierce fire burned the royal city, flying arrows gathered on the ruler’s roof, the ministers were anxious and worried, and the commander-in-chief had no master.' 2. A metaphor for rejecting official ambition. From *Hou Han Shu·Records of Recluse Biography Preface*: 'The Han house was declining, Wang Mang usurped the throne, and scholars’ restrained righteous indignation was very intense. At that time, those who tore their crowns and destroyed their coronets, holding each other and leaving, were countless.' 3. A metaphor for destroying Chinese culture and abandoning national traditions. From *Song Shi·Biography of Hu Quan*: 'Your Majesty, if you bend your knee ... all scholars and officials of the world should tear their crowns and destroy their coronets, changing into Hu attire.' Zhang Binglin *On Revolutionary Morality*: 'Moreover, to return to ancient ways and start anew, the hearts of the people are united in this. Because tearing crowns and destroying coronets has lasted so long, those who follow this number of officials review the old chapters of the Ji and Han, and trace the events of Eastern Xia, only then seeing that dogs and sheep are from different tribes, not our intimates.'