severed enemy head; war trophy
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
severed head of an enemy soldier (in ancient warfare); enemy head taken as military trophy
archaicHistorically used as proof of kills in ancient Chinese warfare, particularly during the Qin Dynasty where presenting enemy heads could earn soldiers noble ranks or land rewards.
Gǔ古
dài代
jiàng将
shì士
cháng常
yǐ以
zhǎn斩
shǒu首
jí级
lái来
jì计
suàn算
jūn军
gōng功
。
Ancient soldiers often calculated military merit by counting severed enemy heads.
Tā他
tí提
zhe着
dí敌
rén人
de的
shǒu首
jí级
guī归
lái来
qǐng请
gōng功
。
He returned carrying the enemy's severed head to claim his merit.
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Qín秦
fǎ法
guī规
dìng定
，
zhǎn斩
shǒu首
yī一
jí级
，
shǎng赏
jué爵
yī一
jí级
。
Qin law stipulated that for every head severed, one noble rank would be rewarded.