Cắp dùi Bác Lãng

Definition
  1. Proper Noun (Historical Idiom):
    • To carry a mallet at Bolang: Refers to the historical assassination attempt by Zhang Liang, who hired a strongman to strike the Qin emperor with a heavy iron mallet at Bolangsha. It symbolizes a failed attempt at revenge or rebellion against a powerful tyrant.
    • A secret plot for revenge: Denotes a covert and daring plan, often involving great personal risk and sacrifice, to avenge a great wrong or overthrow an oppressive ruler.
Usage Examples
  • Proper Noun:
    • Âm mưu của hắn chẳng khác gì "Cắp dùi Bác Lãng", sớm muộn cũng thất bại mà thôi. (His conspiracy is no different from "carrying a mallet at Bolang"; it will fail sooner or later.)
    • Hành động đó được so sánh với sự kiện Cắp dùi Bác Lãng trong lịch sử. (That action is compared to the historical event of "carrying a mallet at Bolang".)
Advanced Usage
  • This term is used metaphorically in literature and political discourse to criticize a bold but poorly planned, reckless, or ultimately futile act of defiance.
    • Kế hoạch lật đổ của họ chỉ là một kiểu "Cắp dùi Bác Lãng" hiện đại. (Their overthrow plan is just a modern kind of "Bolang mallet plot".)
Variants and Related Words
  • Bãi cát Bác Lãng / Bolangsha (n): The sandy beach (Bolangsha) where the assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang took place.
  • Trương Lương / Zhang Liang (n): The historical mastermind (c. 250–186 BC) behind the plot, who later became a celebrated strategist for the Han dynasty.
Synonyms
  • Failed assassination plot: An unsuccessful attempt to kill a prominent figure.
  • Quixotic revenge: A noble but impractical and likely futile pursuit of vengeance.
  • Daring but doomed attempt: A bold action destined to fail.
Related Idioms & Cultural References
  • "Báo thù cho nước Hàn": To take revenge for the state of Han. This is the core motivation behind the "Cắp dùi Bác Lãng" plot.
  • The story is a classic example of "thất bại là mẹ thành công" (failure is the mother of success), as Zhang Liang learned from this failure, went into hiding, and later successfully helped found the Han Dynasty.