分鞋破镜 — “To symbolize the separation of a husband and wife”

The idiom "分鞋破镜" (fēn xié pò jìng) originates from a story during the Song Dynasty, primarily illustrating the "分鞋" (dividing shoes) aspect. A man named Cheng Huaipengju was abducted and forced into servitude at Zhang Wanhú's residence. There, he married a woman from an official's family who had also been captured by Zhang.

The woman, perceiving Cheng Huaipengju's exceptional talent and demeanor, believed he was destined for more than a life of servitude. She repeatedly urged him to escape.

However, Cheng suspected his wife was acting on Zhang's instructions to test him, so he reported her to Zhang. Consequently, the woman was expelled from the household.

As she was leaving, she took off one of her embroidered shoes and exchanged it with Cheng, expressing a hope that they would someday meet again. This poignant act of exchanging shoes symbolized their forced and sorrowful separation, thus contributing to the meaning of the idiom, which broadly refers to the parting of a husband and wife.