A Deer or A Horse

It’s a sign of tyranny when people of influence and power insist that you should not believe in what you see.

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Photo by Diana Parkhouse on Unsplash

Recently, I watched the new documentary Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors, now streaming on Netflix. This enthralling film takes viewers on a history journey through the excavation efforts at the ancient tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, the founder of the Qin dynasty. For those unacquainted with his legacy, it’s crucial to note that he spearheaded two of ancient China’s most monumental cultural achievements- the construction of the Great Wall and the installation of thousands of terracotta warriors in his mausoleum complex, a testament to his grandeur and vision.

As I immersed myself in the documentary, it not only rekindled memories of my visit to the terracotta warriors in China but also reminded me of a well-known idiom from that era, Zhi Lu Wei Ma (指鹿为马) or calling a deer a horse. The idiom is often used to describe deliberately distortion of truth, something that surprisingly resonates with today’s political discussions.

After Emperor Qin Shi Huang died unexpectedly while touring in Southern China, he left a will pointing to his eldest son, Fusu, as heir. The chief eunuch of the court, Zhao Gao, a cunning and influential figure, convinced then-prime minister Li Si, a trusted advisor, to alter Shi Huang’s will. They made Shi Huang’s youngest son, Huhai, who was traveling with them, the new emperor. Li Si and Zhao Gao preferred Huhai because they could easily manipulate the young, inexperienced, and injudicious new emperor while accumulating power and wealth. This political maneuvering was a testament to their ambition and ruthlessness.

The chief eunuch, Zhao Gao, was a master of political manipulation, with an insatiable hunger for power and a ruthless disregard for dissent. He managed to sway Emperor Huhai to sentence Li Si to death and took his place as the new prime minister.  But this position was not enough for Zhao. He craved even more power, and to secure it, he devised a cunning plan, fearing the potential resistance to his overt power-grabbing.