Idiom Story — 指鹿为马

The Story

When Qin Er Shi 胡亥 (Hu Hai) became emperor, the eunuch 赵高 (Zhao Gao) held great power. He wanted to test whether the court officials would obey him, so he devised an absurd "loyalty test."

One day, Zhao Gao led a deer into the imperial court and said to Emperor Hu Hai:

"Your Majesty, I have brought you a fine steed that can run a thousand miles."

Hu Hai looked puzzled and said, "But this is clearly a deer!"

Zhao Gao replied, "How could that be? This is a horse."

He then turned to the court officials and asked, "What do you say — is this a horse?"

Some officials, afraid of Zhao Gao’s influence, dared not tell the truth and agreed that it was a horse. A few others insisted it was a deer.

Afterward, Zhao Gao secretly recorded the names of those who didn’t agree with him, and later found excuses to execute or dismiss them.

This event was absurd and brutal, yet it truly reflects how Zhao Gao used manipulation and fear to blur right and wrong and control the court.

As a result, the idiom 指鹿为马 (zhǐ lù wéi mǎ) — “Calling a deer a horse” — became famous, used to mock those who deliberately distort the truth, reverse right and wrong, or deceive others.

Recap

  • Idiom: 指鹿为马
  • Pinyin: zhǐ lù wéi mǎ
  • Literal meaning: Pointing at a deer and calling it a horse
  • Extended meaning: Deliberately distorting the truth; confusing right and wrong

If you had been there at the time, would you have said it was a deer or a horse?

Introduction of Related Figures

  • 胡亥 (Hu Hai): The second emperor of the Qin Dynasty in ancient China, youngest son of Qin Shi Huang. He became emperor with the help of Zhao Gao. Hu Hai was not strong or wise, trusted Zhao Gao too much, and followed his advice blindly. His short and harsh rule led to widespread rebellion. He ruled from 210 BCE to 207 BCE and was eventually forced to kill himself, after which the Qin Dynasty quickly collapsed.
  • 赵高 (Zhao Gao): A powerful eunuch during the Qin Dynasty. He served under Qin Shi Huang and later controlled Emperor Hu Hai. Zhao Gao was cunning and manipulative, involved in many plots including forcing Hu Hai to kill his own brothers. He is remembered as a symbol of corruption and treachery in Chinese history.