Historical Tales
历史故事
Xiang Yu Heard the Folk Songs of the Chu State on All Sides
四面楚歌
The allusion comes from The Biography of Xiang Yu in The Records of the Historian.
这个典故出自《史记•项羽本纪》。
“When Xiang Yu, the general of the uprising peasant army and the Sovereign of Chu State camped his defeated troops in Gai Xia， he suffered from a shortage of forces and food.
“当农民起义军的首领和楚国霸王项羽在垓下驻扎了他被打败的军队，军队面临着兵力和食物的短缺。
And the troops of Liu Bang，the King of Han State and their dukes rounded up Xiang Yu's troops in tight rings.
汉军首领刘邦的部队和他们的诸侯紧紧包围了项羽的军队。
At night, everywhere around the Liu Bang's camps could be heard the folk songs of Chu State.
夜晚，刘邦营地的每一个角落都可以听到《楚歌》。
Xiang Yu, terribly shocked, murmured：‘Has Han occupied all the lands of Chu?’”
项羽大惊失色，喃喃道：‘汉军已经占领了楚国所有的土地了吗？’”
Later, the allusion refers to an endangered situation, or a state of being surrounded and isolated by enemies.
后来，这则典故被用来比喻四面受敌，到达孤立无援的窘迫境地。
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