A vast and powerful army; a formidable host; an imposing array or momentum.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Southern and Northern Dynasties period, Emperor Wu of Liang appointed General Chen Qingzhi to lead an expedition against Northern Wei.
Chen Qingzhi's army was invincible, sweeping all opposition before them until they reached the city of Xingyang. He inspired his troops, and with only 7,000 men, they defeated the 300,000-strong Wei army, advancing directly towards Luoyang.
His soldiers, dressed in white battle robes, were incredibly valiant and awe-inspiring. The Wei people, in awe, remarked: 'Even renowned generals and powerful armies cannot stand firm; a thousand armies and ten thousand horses flee from the white robes.'
This idiom later came to describe a grand and powerful force or an overwhelming momentum.