choose a son-in-law

choose a son-in-law

Qu è P í ngzh ò ngxu ǎ n, a Chinese idiom, means to ask the suitor to shoot two arrows. Whoever can shoot the peacock on the screen will be betrothed by his daughter. It comes from the biography of empress Dou of Gaozu in the old book of Tang Dynasty.

Idiom explanation

Sparrow screen: door screen with peacock. He was chosen to be his son-in-law.

Idiom usage

To be chosen as a son-in-law.

Analysis of Idioms

[synonym] Jinping archer Tongyun CI] blatant, Yangtze River natural danger, greasy faced, full of money, dazzling, heart turning, staring, exposing people's shortcomings, breaking strengths to make up for weaknesses, what's the time to see

Idiom story

Princess Chang, the elder sister of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, gave birth to a girl (empress Dou). Dou Yi, the father of empress Dou, often said, "this daughter is beautiful and has extraordinary knowledge. How can she marry anyone at will?" So he drew two peacocks between the screens and asked the suitors to shoot two arrows each. He secretly decided that whoever could shoot the peacock in the eye would be betrothed. There were more than dozens of shooters, none of whom met the requirements. Li Yuan, Emperor Gaozu of Tang Dynasty, finally shot two arrows into peacock's eyes, so he married empress Dou to Gaozu. Later, Gaozu became emperor and empress Dou became Queen.