ancient ritual vessels; banquet; diplomatic negotiation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
ancient ritual vessels for wine and meat; banquet or feast (by metonymy)
archaicOriginally referred to the wine vessels (尊 zūn) and meat stands (俎 zǔ) used in ancient rituals and banquets. Later used as a literary metonym for diplomatic banquets, especially in the idiom 折冲尊俎, meaning to defeat the enemy through diplomacy at the negotiating table rather than through warfare.
Zhé折
chōng冲
zūn尊
zǔ俎
，
kè克
dí敌
zhì制
shèng胜
。
Defeating the enemy through diplomatic negotiations at the banquet table.
Gǔ古
dài代
jì祭
sì祀
shí时
，
zūn尊
zǔ俎
chén陈
liè列
yú于
miào庙
táng堂
zhī之
shàng上
。
During ancient sacrificial ceremonies, the ritual vessels were displayed upon the temple hall.
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Liǎng两
guó国
tán谈
pàn判
dài代
biǎo表
zài在
zūn尊
zǔ俎
zhī之
jiān间
dá达
chéng成
le了
xié协
yì议
。
The negotiators from both countries reached an agreement across the banquet table.