How to Read “傾国”
Keikoku
Meaning of “傾国”
“Overturn country” refers to a woman of such extraordinary beauty that her beauty could overturn a nation, or a woman whose beauty is so overwhelming it could destroy a country.
This expression goes beyond simply being beautiful, describing an overwhelming beauty that would captivate rulers and those in power to the point where they would neglect politics. In other words, it’s a metaphor for ultimate beauty where an individual’s beauty has enough influence to affect the fate of a nation.
It is used to describe historical beauties or women of comparable extraordinary beauty. However, in modern times, it doesn’t mean actual political influence, but is understood as a superlative expression of beauty meaning “beautiful to that extent.” The reason for using this word is to emphasize overwhelming and dangerously captivating beauty that cannot be expressed with ordinary words for beauty. Even today, it is sometimes used in the entertainment and literary worlds as the highest form of praise when describing exceptionally beautiful women.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Overturn country” can be traced to Chinese classical literature. This word was originally used in Chinese historical records and poetry to mean that a beautiful woman’s beauty had the power to bewitch rulers and overturn nations.
Particularly famous is the poem “Bei Fang You Jia Ren” (There is a Beauty in the North) that the Chinese poet Li Yannian presented to Emperor Wu of Han. This poem contains the expression “yi gu qing ren cheng, zai gu qing ren guo” (one glance overturns a city, a second glance overturns a country), which is considered the direct etymological source of the term “Overturn country.” This poem sang of the beauty of Li Furen, Li Yannian’s sister, and Emperor Wu was indeed deeply captivated by her.
It was transmitted to Japan along with Chinese classical literature, and this concept began appearing in literary works of the Heian period. In the aristocratic society of that time, being versed in Chinese classics was considered proof of education, so the expression “Overturn country” is thought to have come into use among intellectuals.
What’s interesting is that this word contained not just praise for beauty, but also served as a political warning. In ancient China, there were historical lessons about national politics becoming chaotic when rulers indulged in feminine beauty, and “Overturn country” also carried this cautionary meaning.
Interesting Facts
Li Furen, who inspired the creation of the term “Overturn country,” was actually a former dancer. She entered the palace through her brother Li Yannian’s connection as a court musician, received the favor of Emperor Wu of Han, but died young from illness. Emperor Wu continued to love her deeply and could not forget her even after death.
In Japanese classical literature, the concept of “Overturn country” is often used together with the word “overturn city,” forming the four-character idiom “overturn city, overturn country.” This is a clever combination of words that expresses the influence of beauty in stages, meaning to overturn both cities and countries.
Usage Examples
- Her beauty is truly worthy of being called an Overturn country beauty
- As a movie actress, she took the world by storm with her Overturn country beauty
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the concept of “Overturn country” has undergone complex changes. While it once expressed the danger of beauty connected to political power, today it is mainly understood as a superlative expression of beauty used in the entertainment and media worlds.
With the spread of social media and the internet, beauty standards and the nature of influence have also changed dramatically. Modern “Overturn country beauties” appear not as those who bewitch political leaders, but as beings who captivate millions of followers, influence brand sales, and create social trends. We live in an era where influencers and popular actresses can even move corporate stock prices with a single post.
Moreover, in modern times, diversity in beauty is emphasized, and questions are raised about uniform beauty standards. The male-centered perspective on female beauty that the term “Overturn country” carries is increasingly being reconsidered from a feminist viewpoint. Critical voices are also rising against measuring women’s value solely by their physical beauty.
However, the poetic beauty this word possesses and the longing for ultimate beauty continue to resonate with modern people. In an era where many people can pursue “Overturn country” level beauty through advances in cosmetic technology, this classical expression may be taking on new meaning.
When AI Hears This
The term “keikoku” (傾国) originates from the ancient Chinese classic “Book of Songs” (Shijing), specifically the phrase “一顧傾人城、再顧傾人国” – meaning that a beautiful woman’s first glance can topple a city, and her second glance can topple a nation. This concept bears a striking resemblance to modern influencer phenomena.
In ancient China, legendary beauties like Yang Guifei and Daji clouded emperors’ judgment and threw state affairs into chaos. Today, influencers with millions of followers can move corporate stock prices with a single post and sway election outcomes by sharing their political views. During the 2021 GameStop stock frenzy, individual investors using social media calls caused massive hedge funds to lose hundreds of billions of yen.
What both scenarios share is the human psychology where “emotional attachment to charismatic individuals overrides rational judgment.” Ancient emperors and modern followers alike make decisions based on emotion rather than logic. Psychology calls this the “halo effect” – when one attractive trait (beauty or charisma) distorts all other judgments.
“Keikoku” isn’t simply about beautiful women; it’s a concept that captures the universal risk of individual influence causing collective decision-making systems to collapse. In our SNS-driven era, the value of this classical wisdom deserves renewed recognition.
Lessons for Today
What the term “Overturn country” teaches us today is the magnitude of beauty’s power and the importance of maintaining an appropriate distance from it. While it’s natural as humans to be captivated by beautiful things, it contains ancient wisdom that we shouldn’t become so absorbed that we lose sight of what’s truly important.
In modern society, we are surrounded by beautiful things through social media and various forms of media. In such circumstances, the lesson of “Overturn country” teaches us the danger of placing too much value solely on physical beauty. While appreciating beauty is wonderful, we should not forget that it’s not everything.
This word also teaches us the value of beauty itself. Beauty that could overturn a country means it has the power to move people’s hearts to that extent. It reminds us of the meaning of creating beautiful things and cherishing them.
When you encounter beautiful things in your daily life, if you can appreciate their power while maintaining a balanced heart, your life will surely become richer.
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