故劍

Chinese

		happening; instance; reason happening; instance; reason; cause; deceased; old	(double-edged) sword
trad. (故劍)		故	劍
simp. (故剑)		故	剑
Literally: “the old sword”.

Etymology

From the story of Emperor Xuan of Han, as recorded in the Book of Han:

Before Emperor Xuan of Han ascended to the throne, he was married to Xu Pingjun, the daughter of Xu Guanghan (an assistant to Prince He of Changyi). After he became the emperor, Xu Pingjun was initially created an imperial consort. When it came time to create an empress, the officials at the time favoured him to marry Huo Chengjun, the daughter of the regent Huo Guang, and make her empress. Upon hearing this, the Emperor issued a decree to seek out the old sword that he owned as a commoner. Getting the hint, the officials recommended Consort Xu Pingjun as empress instead.

(Empress Xu was later murdered by poisoning, by Huo Guang's wife, Xian.)

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): gùjiàn

  (Zhuyin): ㄍㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): gu³ gim³

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: gùjiàn
    • Zhuyin: ㄍㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: gùjiàn
    • Wade–Giles: ku⁴-chien⁴
    • Yale: gù-jyàn
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: guhjiann
    • Palladius: гуцзянь (guczjanʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: gu³ gim³
    • Yale: gu gim
    • Cantonese Pinyin: gu³ gim³
    • Guangdong Romanization: gu³ gim³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kuː³³ kiːm³³/

Noun

(deprecated template usage) 故劍

1. (literary, figurative) the first wife of one's humble days; one's former wife