垂帘听政 — “To exercise power or govern from behind the scenes”
垂帘听政 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to exercise power or govern from behind the scenes”. Typically referring to a female regent or empress dowager who holds actual authority while a male ruler is titular. Literally, “govern from behind a curtain”.
垂帘听政 Pronunciation and Pinyin
垂帘听政 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 垂帘听政
Origin and Story of 垂帘听政
During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi ascended the throne and appointed Wu Zetian as his Empress.
As Emperor Gaozong was frail and often ill, he couldn't preside over court affairs for long. So, a curtain was hung behind the imperial throne in the court, and Empress Wu Zetian sat behind it, participating in discussions between Gaozong and his ministers on state matters.
After Emperor Gaozong's death, Wu Zetian continued to assist the young emperor in governing from behind the curtain.
Idioms Related to 垂帘听政
Antonyms of 垂帘听政
More idioms starting with 垂
- chuí垂shì世bù不xiǔ朽achieve everlasting fame
- chuí垂míng名zhú竹bó帛Be immortalized in history
- chuí垂míng名qīng青shǐ史leave a lasting name in history
- chuí垂tóu头sàng丧qì气dejected and dispirited
- chuí垂tóu头tā塌chì翅dejected and dispirited
- chuí垂tóu头sāi塞ěr耳deliberately ignore and feign ignorance
- chuí垂tóu头tà搨yì翼crestfallen and dejected
- chuí垂tóu头shā铩yǔ羽utterly dispirited and dejected
- chuí垂lián帘tīng听jué决rule from behind a curtain
- chuí垂shǒu手shì侍lì立stand respectfully, ready to serve
- chuí垂shǒu手kě可dé得easily obtainable
- chuí垂shǒu手gōng恭lì立stand respectfully with hands at sides
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Open the tool →Questions about 垂帘听政
What does 垂帘听政 mean?
垂帘听政 (chuí lián tīng zhèng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to exercise power or govern from behind the scenes”.
How do you pronounce 垂帘听政?
垂帘听政 is pronounced chuí lián tīng zhèng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 垂帘听政 literally mean?
Literally, 垂帘听政 means “govern from behind a curtain”. It is used to mean “to exercise power or govern from behind the scenes”.
Where does 垂帘听政 come from?
垂帘听政 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 垂帘听政?
垂帘：太后或皇后临朝听政，殿上用帘子遮隔。听：治理。指太后临朝管理国家政事。