Describes something irregular, interlocking, or jagged like dog's teeth; also used metaphorically to describe a complex, convoluted, and intertwined situation with various conflicting elements.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
After Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang) founded the Han Dynasty, he enfeoffed many meritorious officials as kings in different regions. However, these kings soon wielded strong local power and even showed signs of rebellion, so Emperor Gaozu gradually eliminated them. To consolidate the Han imperial house, he then generously granted fiefdoms to members of his own clan.
The increasing number of these same-surname vassal states eventually led to the Rebellion of the Seven States, led by the King of Wu, during Emperor Jing's reign. Emperor Jing sent Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu to suppress the rebellion. Although the rebellion was quelled, the presence of these powerful vassal states continued to threaten the stability of the Han Dynasty.
Later, during the reign of Emperor Wu, in an effort to strengthen central authority, he implemented a policy of 'territorial reduction' to weaken the power of the regional kings and planned further actions. This move caused alarm among the princes, who pleaded with Emperor Wu, saying: 'We are connected to the imperial family by blood. The late emperor deliberately arranged our fiefdoms to be interlocked like dog's teeth (犬牙般交错), precisely so that we could collectively protect the Han Dynasty. We hope Your Majesty will be lenient.' In response, Emperor Wu subsequently issued the 'Tui En Ling' (Edict of Grace), which allowed the princes to divide their territories among their sons. This effectively and indirectly weakened the power of the various vassal states and successfully solidified central authority.