Thúc quý
Definition
- Noun:
- A period of decline and disorder: Refers to a chaotic and deteriorating era in a dynasty or society, preceding its collapse. It signifies a time when governance is corrupt, morals are decaying, and signs of impending doom are evident.
- The penultimate stage of dynastic collapse: In traditional Chinese historical theory, it denotes the stage of severe decline just before the final stage of extinction ("Quý Thế").
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Triều đại ấy đang ở thời kỳ thúc quý. (That dynasty is in its period of terminal decline.)
- Nhà sử học mô tả giai đoạn đó là một thời thúc quý điển hình. (The historian described that period as a classic era of decadence and disorder.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is primarily used in formal, historical, or literary contexts to analyze the cyclical rise and fall of dynasties, often in conjunction with the term "Quý Thế" (the final, perishing stage).
Variants and Related Words
- Quý Thế (n): The final, perishing stage; the era of complete collapse and extinction that follows "Thúc Quý".
- Thịnh thế (n): A prosperous and flourishing age; the antonym of "thúc quý".
- Loạn thế (n): An age of chaos; a related term emphasizing disorder.
Synonyms
- Decline: The process of becoming weaker or deteriorating.
- Decadence: Moral or cultural decline, often characterized by excessive indulgence.
- Degeneration: The state of declining or deteriorating, especially in moral or physical qualities.
Related Concepts
- Cyclical view of history: The concept that dynasties and empires go through inevitable cycles of birth, growth, decline, and fall. "Thúc quý" is a key phase in this cycle.
- Dynastic transition: The period when one ruling house is weakening and about to be replaced by another.