| 九五之尊 |
| jiǔ wǔ zhī zū |
| 'The respect of 9-5'; 9-5 represents the emperor, since in ancient times 9 represented honor (being the highest odd, or 'yang', number) while 5 signified mediation and harmony since it is in the middle amony the 'yang' numbers. When put together, 9 and 5 signify 'harmonic honor'. This idiom means 'the honor of the emperor and of the imperial throne'. |
|
| 真龙天子 |
| zhēn lóng tiānzi |
| 'The immortal descendant of the true dragon, son of heaven'; a nickname for the emperor |
|
| 挟天子以令诸侯 |
| xié tiānzǐ yǐ lìng zhū hóu |
| 'Rely on the emperor when commanding the feudal lords'; use the emperor's name in order to legitimize one's own decisions and orders. Today this idiom signifies the act of using the power of authority to mobilize people in a manner that suits one's own selfish aspirations |
|
| 天高皇帝远 |
| tiān gāo huángdì yuǎn |
| 'The sky is high, the emperor is far!'; beyond the reach of the authorities; it is difficult to get justice |
|
|
| 三皇五帝 |
| sān huáng wǔ dì |
| 'The Three Primordial Sovereigns, the Five Mythological Emperors', referring to the three mythologicals emperors of heaven, land and the human realms and the five emperors of the 'five elements' (wood, fire, soil, gold, water) |
|
| 帝王将相 |
| dìwáng jiàng xiàng |
| The emperor, his generals and ministers |
|
| 孤家寡人 |
| gū jiā guǎ rén |
| 'The sovereign, isolated from his home' (taken from the Book of Rites); in the past this idiom represented the solitary lifestyle of the emperor. Today it indicates a person who is a 'loner'. |
|
| 皇亲国戚 |
| huáng qīn guó qī |
| 'Relatives and in-laws of the emperor', also signifying powerful and influential personage |
|
|
| 金口玉言 |
| jīn kǒu yù yán |
| 'Gold mouth, jade words'; referring in the past to words and commands said by the emperor, or any authoritative decision that cannot be doubted or criticized. Today people often use this idiom in a satirical fashion |
|
| 伴君如伴虎 |
| bàn jūn rú bàn hǔ |
| 'To accompany the emperor is like to accompany a tiger' |
|
| 普天之下莫非王土， 率土之滨莫非王臣 |
| pǔ tiān zhīxià mòfēi wáng tǔ ，shuài tǔ zhī bīn mòfēi wáng chén |
| 'The whole world is the land of the emperor, all the troops are his officials'; everything one sees belongs to the monarch and is governed by him |
|
