nán南shān山yǒu有niǎo鸟,,běi北shān山zhāng张luo罗
To use an inappropriate method or strategy, thus failing to achieve the desired outcome; to bark up the wrong tree.
Era:
Modern
Frequency:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Ziyu, the daughter of King Fuchai of Wu, fell in love with a talented commoner named Han Chong. Han Chong gave his family heirloom, a purple jade, to Lady Ziyu.
When King Fuchai discovered this, he drove away Han Chong's parents who had come to the palace to propose marriage and forced Ziyu to marry a nobleman. Ziyu died of grief.
Han Chong went to Ziyu's tomb. Ziyu's spirit sang: 'There are birds on the South Mountain, but nets are set on the North Mountain.'