Jake Harper
Kill the chicken to scare the monkey is an old Chinese idiom. It refers to making an example of someone to threaten others. The phrase originates from a Chinese folktale about a street entertainer with a dancing monkey. When the monkey refused to dance, the entertainer killed a chicken in front of the monkey, after which the monkey resumed dancing. The idiom has been used to describe the Chinese Communist Party's repression and is the title of a 2011 short film by Jens Assur.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Chinese idiom or proverb |
| Literal meaning | Kill a chicken to scare a monkey |
| Interpretation | Make an example out of someone to threaten others; a measure of fear is necessary at times to bring bigger things in line |
| Example | A street entertainer killed a chicken in front of his dancing monkey when it refused to perform, to shame it into dancing |
| Usage | Used to describe the Chinese Communist Party's repression on the mainland, and the crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-independence movement |
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What You'll Learn
The Chinese idiom's meaning
"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey" is an old Chinese idiom that refers to making an example out of someone to threaten others. The idiom can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty, with several folk tales illustrating its meaning.
In one tale, a street entertainer had a dancing monkey that earned him a lot of money. One day, the monkey refused to dance, so the entertainer killed a live chicken in front of the monkey, after which the monkey resumed dancing. Another version of the tale involves a man named Jiāng Zǐyá, who was tasked by the king to find him an adviser. Jiāng Zǐyá asked a scholar who lived on a mountaintop, but the scholar refused. Jiāng Zǐyá then killed the scholar, knowing that other scholars would fear refusing the king, thus accepting the invitation.
The idiom has been used to describe the Chinese Communist Party's repression and heavy-handed tactics, such as in Hong Kong, where political freedoms have been rapidly disappearing. It has also been invoked in conversations about the Chinese leader's scare tactics against Jack Ma.
The expression may sound strange to non-Chinese speakers, but it conveys the idea that a measure of fear is necessary to bring bigger things in line.
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Folktales and historical anecdotes
"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey" is an old Chinese idiom or proverb. It refers to making an example of someone to threaten others. The idiom is often used to describe the Chinese Communist Party's repression.
According to a Chinese folktale, when street entertainment in the form of busking first started, vendors would earn money by making their monkeys dance to the music. In this tale, one monkey refused to dance, so the entertainer killed a chicken in front of the monkey, after which the monkey resumed dancing.
A historical anecdote from the beginning of the Zhou dynasty relates that Jiāng Zǐyá was tasked by the king to find him an adviser. Jiāng Zǐyá approached a scholar who lived on a mountaintop. When the scholar refused, Jiāng Zǐyá killed him, knowing that other scholars would fear the same fate and thus accept the invitation to join the kingdom.
Another version of the folktale also comes from the Zhou dynasty and involves the same character, Jiāng Zǐyá. In this tale, Jiāng Zǐyá is again asked by the king to find an adviser. He asks a noted scholar who lived high up on a mountaintop, but the scholar refuses multiple times. Jiāng Zǐyá then kills the scholar, knowing that other potential advisers would accept the invitation out of fear.
In 2020, the Chinese leader allegedly used scare tactics with Jack Ma, reminding writers of the folktale and the idiom.
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Usage in modern politics
"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey" is an old Chinese idiom that refers to making an example of someone to threaten others. The idiom is based on a folk tale from the Zhou Dynasty about a street entertainer whose dancing monkey stopped performing. To scare the monkey into dancing again, the entertainer killed a chicken in front of it.
The idiom has been used to describe modern political events and tactics, especially in China and Hong Kong.
In 2019, journalists covering the crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-independence movement used the idiom to describe the Chinese Communist Party's repression on the mainland, which was seen as a threat to Hong Kong's political freedoms. The idiom was also used in 2020 to describe a conversation between Jack Ma and President Xi Jinping, in which the Chinese leader allegedly used scare tactics against Ma.
The 2011 short film "Killing the Chickens, to Scare the Monkeys," directed by Jens Assur, also draws on the idiom. The film is set in the People's Republic of China and depicts the unforeseen consequences of national politics and strategy on a young teacher's life.
The idiom continues to be relevant in modern politics, reflecting the ongoing use of heavy-handed tactics and the complexity of the political landscape.
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Film inspiration
The idiom "to kill the chicken to scare the monkey" is an old Chinese proverb that refers to making an example of someone to threaten others. This idea can be a great source of inspiration for filmmakers, especially those looking to create suspense and explore power dynamics.
For example, a filmmaker could draw on this proverb for a story about a character who refuses to conform to a powerful figure's demands. The powerful figure, wanting to make an example of this character, enacts a harsh punishment as a warning to other potential dissidents. This dynamic sets the stage for a thrilling narrative where the protagonist must navigate a repressive environment, with the constant threat of punishment hanging over them.
The proverb also speaks to the abuse of power and the manipulation of fear. A film inspired by this theme might explore a character's descent into tyranny as they discover the effectiveness of using fear to control others. Alternatively, the film could centre on a character who challenges this oppressive system, becoming the "monkey" who refuses to dance, despite the consequences.
The setting of such a film could vary, from a historical context mirroring the Zhou Dynasty in the original folktale, to a modern-day political thriller. The 2011 short film "Killing the Chickens, to Scare the Monkeys", directed by Jens Assur, provides a contemporary interpretation of this idiom, exploring the unintended consequences of national politics on an individual's life.
In conclusion, the idiom "to kill the chicken to scare the monkey" offers a wealth of inspiration for filmmakers. It invites exploration of themes such as power, fear, and conformity, and can serve as a jumping-off point for a range of narrative directions, from character-driven dramas to political thrillers.
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Translation and interpretation
"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey" is an old Chinese idiom or proverb. The literal translation of the Chinese phrase is "kill chicken scare monkey" (traditional Chinese: 殺雞儆猴; simplified Chinese: 杀鸡儆猴; pinyin: Shājījǐnghóu; Wade–Giles: Sha-chi-ching-hou).
The saying refers to making an example out of someone in order to threaten others. This tactic is often used by authorities in a police state to break the will of opposition leaders.
There are several folk tales associated with the idiom. One tells of a street entertainer with a dancing monkey who earned him a lot of money. When the monkey refused to dance, the entertainer killed a chicken in front of the monkey, after which the monkey resumed dancing. Another story from the Zhou dynasty tells of a king who asked Jiāng Zǐyá to find him an adviser. Jiāng Zǐyá asked a scholar who lived on a mountaintop, but the scholar refused. Jiāng Zǐyá then killed the scholar, knowing that other scholars would fear refusing the king and thus accept any future invitations.
The idiom has been used to describe the Chinese Communist Party's repression and, more recently, the political situation in Hong Kong.
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Frequently asked questions
It is an old Chinese idiom that refers to making an example out of someone to threaten others.
The idiom originates from a Chinese folktale about a street entertainer with a dancing monkey. When the monkey refused to dance, the entertainer killed a chicken in front of the monkey, after which the monkey resumed dancing.
In 2020, the idiom was used to describe a conversation between Jack Ma and President Xi Jinping of China. It has also been used to describe the Chinese Communist Party's repression on the mainland and the crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-independence movement.
Yes, the idiom has been used in business and investment contexts to describe situations of global turmoil and confusion in the political landscape.
