明镜高悬 — “To administer justice impartially”
明镜高悬 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to administer justice impartially”. To judge cases with absolute fairness and integrity, as if a bright mirror were hung high, reflecting all truths. Literally, “A bright mirror hung high”.
明镜高悬 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 明míng
- 镜jìng
- 高gāo
- 悬xuán
明镜高悬 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 明镜高悬
Origin and Story of 明镜高悬
Legend has it that in the Xianyang Palace during the Qin Dynasty, there was a miraculous mirror. It was four feet wide and five feet tall, capable of reflecting people from both sides. When a person stood before it, their reflection appeared upside down.
If one pressed their hand to their chest while looking into it, their internal organs would be visible, revealing ailments within the body. It could also identify those with malicious intentions. Qin Shi Huang frequently used this mirror to scrutinize those around him.
This legendary mirror, which could discern good from evil and reveal hidden truths, became a symbol for an official who judges cases with absolute fairness and honesty.
Idioms Related to 明镜高悬
Synonyms of 明镜高悬
Antonyms of 明镜高悬
More idioms starting with 明
- míng明zhēng争àn暗dòu斗open contention and covert struggle
- míng明yú于zhì治luàn乱understand principles of order and disorder
- míng明rén人bù不zuò作àn暗shì事An upright person acts openly
- míng明rén人bù不zuò做àn暗shì事An honest person acts openly
- míng明rén人bù不shuō说àn暗huà话A frank person speaks directly
- míng明xiū修àn暗dù度openly feign, secretly act
- míng明xiū修zhàn栈dào道，，àn暗dù度chén陈cāng仓feint in one direction, advance in another
- míng明xiū修zhàn栈dào道，，àn暗dù渡chén陈cāng仓feign one thing, do another
- míng明guāng光shuò烁liàng亮Dazzlingly bright and sparkling
- míng明guāng光zhēng铮liàng亮Dazzlingly bright and gleaming
- míng明guāng光zèng锃liàng亮dazzlingly bright and polished
- míng明gōng公zhèng正yì义Open, fair, and just
Questions about 明镜高悬
- What does 明镜高悬 mean?
- 明镜高悬 (míng jìng gāo xuán) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to administer justice impartially”.
- How do you pronounce 明镜高悬?
- 明镜高悬 is pronounced míng jìng gāo xuán in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 明镜高悬 literally mean?
- Literally, 明镜高悬 means “a bright mirror hung high”. It is used to mean “to administer justice impartially”.
- Where does 明镜高悬 come from?
- 明镜高悬 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 明镜高悬?
- 传说秦始皇有一面镜子，能照人心胆。比喻官员判案公正廉明。