Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传工作紙): DSE's Chinese strategy for victory
If you want to easily master the key points of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列傳), character analyses and writing techniques, GETUTOR has prepared comprehensive study worksheets for you, together with interactive exercises and DSE exam focus analyses, to help you stand out in the Chinese Language Exam!
Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) Introduction
The Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) is a classic chapter in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (史記), and one of the twelve sample essays in the DSE. It recounts the story of Lian Bo (廉頗) the famous general of the state of Zhao during the Warring States period, and his diplomat, Xiangru (藺相如), including the three famous events of "the return of the jade annulus to the state of Zhao", "the meeting at the galleries of the Yangzi River", and "the request for the defence of the state of Zhao by the B荊".
This essay not only demonstrates the wisdom and courage of Xiangru (藺相如) and the integrity of Lianpeng (廉頗), but also embodies the noble character of "Putting the country's urgent needs before one's own". Through this article, we can understand the historical background of the Warring States period, the character traits of the characters, as well as the writing skills of Sima Qian.
Need professional guidance in understanding the Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传)?
GETUTOR has a team of professional DSE Chinese tutors who can help you understand the content of the language, grasp the key points of the exam and improve your test-taking ability.
Find a DSE tutor nowFull Text Segmented Translation
The Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) can be divided into three main parts: "The Return of the Bi to Zhao" (完璧歸趙), "The Meeting at the Pond in Beijing" ("澠池之會") and "Inviting Offences by Boring. The following are excerpts from the original text and a modern translation into Chinese.
Part I: The Return of the Completed Articles to Zhao
Lian Bo was a good general of Zhao. In the 16th year of King Huiwen of Zhao, Lian Bo was the general of Zhao who invaded the Qi, defeated them, took Yang Jin, and was made the supreme minister of the state, and was renowned for his bravery among the feudal lords. In the 16th year of King Huiwen of Zhao, Lian Bo was the general of Zhao who fought against the Qi and captured Yang Jin, and was made the superior minister.
Interpretation:Lian Bo was an outstanding general of the state of Zhao. In the 16th year of King Huiwen of Zhao, Lian Bo, as a general of the state of Zhao, attacked the state of Qi, defeated the Qi army, and gained the victory of Yang Jin, and was appointed as the upper minister of the state of Zhao, and he was famous for his bravery and good combat skills in the vassal states. He was a native of the state of Zhao, and was a disciple of Muxian, the head of the eunuchs of the state of Zhao.
During the reign of King Huiwen of Zhao, the king of Qin obtained the Heshi Bi of Chu. When King Zhao of Qin heard about it, he sent a letter to the king of Zhao, asking for fifteen cities in exchange for the jade. The king of Zhao and his generals Lianpao and other ministers were thinking: "If I want to give it to Qin, I am afraid that I will not be able to get the city and I will be deceived; if I want not to give it, I will be afraid of the Qin soldiers coming. The king of Zhao and his generals, Lian Bo and his ministers, were not sure of what to do, but sought for someone who could report to the Qin army.
Interpretation:During the reign of King Huiwen of Zhao, the state of Zhao obtained the He Shi Bi from the state of Chu. When King Zhao of Qin heard about this, he sent a letter to the king of Zhao, saying that he was willing to exchange fifteen cities for the He Shi Bi. The king of Zhao discussed the matter with his general Lian Bo and other ministers: if he wanted to give the jade to Qin, he was afraid that he would not be cheated because he could not get Qin's cities; if he wanted not to give it, he was afraid that Qin's soldiers would attack him. The king could not find someone who could be sent to reply to Qin, but he was unable to do so.
Part II: The Meeting at the Tangerine Pond
Later, Qin attacked Zhao and captured Shicheng. The next year, they attacked Zhao again and killed 20,000 people. The king of Qin told the king of Zhao that he wished to meet with him in a goodwill meeting at the western river in the city of Tengchi. The king of Zhao was afraid of Qin and did not want to go ahead. Lian Bo and Xiangru Lin said, "If the king does not do it, it will show that Zhao is weak and cowardly. The king of Zhao went ahead, and Xiangru followed him.
Interpretation:Later, Qin attacked Zhao and captured Shicheng. In the next year, Qin attacked Zhao again and killed 20,000 people. The king of Qin sent an envoy to tell the king of Zhao that he wanted to have a friendly meeting with the king of Zhao at the Yangtan Pond outside the West River. The king of Zhao was afraid of Qin and planned not to go. But Lian Bo and Xiangru said, "If you do not go, it will show that Zhao is weak and cowardly. So the king of Zhao went to the meeting, accompanied by Xiangru (藺相如).
Part III: The Bauhinia offence
When he returned to the state, he made Xiangru the senior minister of the state, with Lian Bo on his right. Lian Bo said, "I am the general of Zhao, and I have done great work in attacking cities and fighting in the field, but Xiangru of Lin is just a man of words, but he is above me, and Xiangru is a lowly man, so I am ashamed of him, and I can't bear to be below him. He declared, "When I see Xiangru, I will humiliate him."
Interpretation:When he returned to the state of Zhao after the meeting of the Liang Chi, he was made superior minister to Lian Bo because of the great achievements of Xiangru (藺相如). Lian Bo said to him, "As a general of Zhao, I have made great achievements in taking cities and fighting in the wilderness, while Xiangru (藺相如) has only made some achievements by saying a few words, but he is above me, and I am ashamed to be below him, not to mention that he comes from a lowly family. I am ashamed to be beneath him." He said, "When I meet him, I will humiliate him."
Explanation of important terms
warden: The Gatekeepers
leave behind:送、贈
believer: in vain, empty
misfortune: worries, concerns
don't: Don't.
constituent: This one.
delicaciesShame on you.
bring disgrace or humiliation to: Insults
Character Analysis
The characters in Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) are vivid and distinctive. The following is an in-depth analysis of the main characters:
Lian Po
- Courageous and upright: "Known for his courage to the great powers", he was brave and skilled in battle.
- Pride and self-importance"I'm ashamed to be beneath him," he said.
- Taking Eloquence LightlyHe thinks that living in藺相如 "is not as good as talking, as it is for fighting.
- You can change if you know you're wrong.After hearing that Xiangru (藺相如) "puts the nation's priorities before his own", he "bares his flesh and asks for forgiveness".
Lin Xiangru
- resourceful and courageousIn "The Return of the Bi to Zhao", the King of Qin responded with a clever response, "his hair was swept up in anger".
- Loyalty and patriotism: "Please return the jade annulus to Zhao", for the sake of the country's interests.
- eloquent in speech: Preserving Zhao's dignity in the "Meeting at the Pavilion".
- magnanimous: In the face of the threat of corruption, "national priorities come before personal ones".
Other Characters
- Qin Wang (1912-1992), mythical king of the Qin dynasty, reigned 207-207 BC: greed and cunning, "to bear their borders and to make empty promises."
- King ZhaoHe said, "If I want to give it to Qin, I fear that the city will be unattainable and I will be deceived; if I do not want to give it to Qin, I will be in danger of Qin's soldiers coming.
- Miao XianHe recommended Xiangru to go to the State of Qin.
| figure | Key Personality Characteristics | representative event | Descriptive Techniques |
| Lian Po | Courageous, proud, and able to learn from his mistakes. | Asking for forgiveness | Direct description, verbal description |
| Lin Xiangru | Resourcefulness, courage, generosity. | The Return of the Bits to Zhao and the Meeting at the Beijing Pond | Action Description, Verbal Description, Psychological Description |
| Qin Wang (1912-1992), mythical king of the Qin dynasty, reigned 207-207 BC | Greed, cunning, self-importance. | The perfect jade returns to Zhao | Side-by-Side Descriptions, Verbal Descriptions |
| King Zhao | Indecisive and fearful of the Qin Empire. | Mianchi Meeting | Psychological description, action description |
Want to delve deeper into character analysis techniques?
GETUTOR's professional tutors can help you master the method of analysing literary characters and improve your DSE Chinese question answering skills.
Free paired Chinese tutorsIn-depth analysis of three major events
The three major events in the biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) - "Returning the jade annulus to Zhao", "The Meeting at the Pond in Beijing", and "Inviting Sins by Boring" - have their own profound significance, which will be analysed in the following paragraphs:
The perfect jade returns to Zhao
Event Scenario
When the King of Qin offers fifteen cities in exchange for the Heshi Bi of the State of Zhao, the King of Zhao sends Xiangru (藺相如) to the State of Qin. When the King of Qin does not honour his promise, he takes back the Heshi Bi on the pretext that it is flawed, and threatens to break his head and the Bi into pieces on a pillar. In the end,藺相如 succeeds in bringing back the Heshi Bi to the state of Zhao.
Event Meaning
This incident demonstrates the courage and diplomacy of藺相如, who preserved the interests and dignity of the state of Zhao in the face of the powerful state of Qin. It also reflects the international relations and diplomatic strategies of the Warring States period.
Mianchi Meeting
Event Scenario
The King of Qin invites the King of Zhao to meet him at the Pond of the Great Hall. At the suggestion of Lian Bo and Xiangru (藺相如), the king of Zhao is accompanied by Xiangru (藺相如). At the meeting, the king of Qin asks the king of Zhao to play the sepulchre, and Xiangru (藺相如) asks the king of Qin to strike a corkscrew in return. When the Qin ministers proposed to celebrate the king's birthday with the fifteen cities of Zhao, Xiangyu immediately celebrated the king's birthday with Xianyang of Qin, which cleverly resolved the crisis.
Event Meaning
This incident demonstrates once again the resourcefulness and diplomacy of Xiangru (藺相如) who defended the dignity of Zhao before the king of Qin, who "was unable to win any victory over Zhao". It also reflects the etiquette and diplomatic games of the Warring States period.
Asking for forgiveness
Event Scenario
For his great service, Xiangru was appointed as the Secretary of State above Lian Bo. Lian Bo was not satisfied and threatened to humiliate him. He is forced to avoid it for the sake of the state. When Lian Bo learns of his intention to put the state's interests before his own, he is deeply moved and goes to his home to plead for his life. In the end, the two men become "friends by the throat".
Event Meaning
This incident demonstrates the magnanimity of Lin Xiangru and the character of Lian Bo, who is capable of correcting his mistakes. The spirit of the synopsis, "putting the nation's concerns before one's own," is a manifestation of the ancient intellectuals' sense of nationalism and noble character, and is also the core idea of this article.
DSE Exam Tips
In the DSE, questions on the Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) often revolve around three main events, requiring candidates to analyse the characters' performances in the events, their personality traits and the significance of the events. Knowledge of the cause, sequence, outcome and meaning of each event is key to the questions.
Writing and Rhetoric Skills
In his Biography of Lian Po (廉頗藺相如列传), Sima Qian used a variety of writing and rhetorical techniques to make the text vivid and powerful, and the characters vividly portrayed.
Writing Techniques
Characterisation
- Direct descriptionThe following is a direct introduction to the character: "Lian Bo is a good general of Zhao".
- Language DescriptionThe characterisation of the characters through dialogue, as in the case of Xiangru (藺相如) who said, "My head is now shattered in a column along with the jewellery.
- Action DescriptionThe "Sang-ru leads his car into hiding" demonstrates the forbearance of Sang-ru (藺相如).
- Psychological DescriptionLian Bo said, "I am a general of Zhao, and I have made great achievements in attacking cities and fighting in the field... I am ashamed to be a general of Zhao. I'm ashamed to be under him."
rhetorical skills
Frequently Asked Questions
- comparisonThe contrast between the characters of Lian Bo and Xiangru (藺相如) highlights their different characteristics.
- exaggerateThis is a vivid description of the anger of Xiangru (藺相如) and his anger.
- simileThis is a metaphor for the danger to the state of Zhao caused by the rivalry between the two tigers.
- parallelism"If I want to give it to Qin, I fear that the city of Qin will be unattainable and I will be deceived; if I want not to give it to Qin, I will be in danger of the Qin soldiers' coming".
Characteristics of Sima Qian's Narrative
appropriate in detail
Important events such as the "Returning of the jade annulus to Zhao", the "Meeting at the Pond" and the "Invitation to Offence" are described in detail, while secondary episodes are briefly sketched.
Activity
The story is brought to life through specific scenes and dialogues, such as the confrontation between Xiangru (藺相如) and the King of Qin (秦王).
Language Refinement
The language is concise and forceful, and the use of words is precise. For example, "They met at the railway station and became friends at the neck" succinctly sums up the result of their reconciliation.
DSE Assessment Highlights
In the DSE Chinese exam, the Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) is an important part of the exam. Below are some of the most common questions:
Frequently Asked Assessment Points
Lexical Understanding
- Tongyong: e.g. "質" means "鑕", "不" means "否", "不" means "否".
- Multiple meanings of one word: common fictional words such as "for" and "to".
- Ancient and modern anagrams: the difference in meaning between ancient and modern words such as "舍人" and "徒"("徒").
Content Understanding
- Character Analysis: The wit and bravery of Xiangru (藺相如) and Lianpeng (廉頗) who can correct his mistakes
- Exploring the significance of the incident: the spirit embodied in the "Bauhinia" incident
- Analysis of Writing Techniques: e.g. Sima Qian's Characterisation Techniques
Analyses of past DSE examination questions
| years | Topic Type | Test Points | difficulty |
| 2018 | Glossary | "Definition of "Benefits | medium |
| 2019 | Glossary | "Definition of "Clothes | Simple |
| 2020 | Sentence Translation | "I'm afraid I'll be deceived by the King, and I'm afraid I'll have to pay the price of Zhao." | medium |
| 2022 | classical Chinese sentence structure | Identification of inverted sentences | Harder |
Exam Tips
In answering the questions on the biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传), you should pay attention to the following points:
- Lexical Interpretation Questions: Pay attention to generic words, multiple meanings and ancient and modern anagrams.
- Sentence Translation: Understand sentence structure and accurately grasp the meaning of words.
- Content Comprehension Questions: Analyse the character and motivation of a character in the context of specific events.
- Writing Techniques Question: Analyse the use of techniques and their effects.
Worried about the DSE Chinese Exam?
GETUTOR's professional tutors can provide you with personalised tutoring to address your weaknesses, help you master the skills of answering questions in the literary language, and improve your DSE Chinese language results.
Find a professional Chinese tutor nowInteractive Practice Worksheets
The following interactive exercises for the Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) will help you to consolidate what you have learnt and improve your test-taking skills.
Definitional Analysis
Choose the correct explanation for the bolded words in the following sentences:
- "make peopleleave behindThe word "legacy" in the "Book of King Zhao" means:
A. ForgettingB. DeliveryC. LossesD. Stay
- "You're better thanmake a humble apology (formal writing)The "flesh-side" in the "Voltaic Axe Challenge Offence" means:
A. NakedB. Take off your shirtC. Wearing thin clothesD. Kneeling
Answer: 1. B 2. B
Sentence Translation
Translate the following sentences into modern Chinese:
- "Whenever Xiangru was in the imperial court, he often claimed to be ill and did not want to compete with Lianpeng."
- "Then Xiangru went forward and entered the room, and because of that he knelt down and invited the king of Qin."
- "The king of Qin was afraid that he would break the jade, so he thanked him for the invitation."
Refer to the answer:
1. Whenever Xiangru (藺相如) went to the court, he used to say that he was ill and did not want to compete with Lian Bo (廉頗) for the first place.
2. So Xiangru moved forward to present the tiles and kneeled down to beg the king of Qin.
3. The king was afraid that he might break the jade, so he apologised politely and begged again and again.
Character Analysis
According to the article, analyse the character traits of Lin Xiangru and Lian Bo and give examples:
Lin Xiangru
Lian Po
Refer to the answer:
Lin Xiangru: wit and bravery (e.g. threatening the King of Qin in "Returning the jade annulus to Zhao"), loyalty and love for the country (e.g. risking a mission to Qin), generosity (e.g. avoiding Lian Bo and "putting the country's urgency before one's own")
Lian PoCourage (e.g., "I am known to all the marquis for my courage"), arrogance (e.g., I am not satisfied with the position of Xiangru at the top of the hierarchy), and the ability to rectify one's mistakes (e.g., "Bare one's brow" and plead guilty to Xiangru (藺相如)).
Analysis of Writing Techniques
Analyse the writing techniques and their effects in the Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传):
Refer to the answer:
Sima Qian's Biography of Lian Bo and Xiangru (藺相如列传) employs a variety of writing techniques: 1) characterisation: through language, action, psychology, etc., the characters are portrayed in a vivid manner; 2) contrasting techniques: by comparing and contrasting the personalities of Lian Bo and Xiangru (藺相如列傳), the two characters are highlighted as being different from one another; 3) proper detail: important events are described in detail, while minor details are briefly sketched out; 4) rhetorical techniques: exaggerations, metaphors, and other rhetorical devices are used to make the text vivid and graphic, These techniques make the characterisation of the article vivid and vivid. These techniques make the characters vivid, the mood vivid and the theme prominent.
Need more practice materials?
GETUTOR provides a wealth of practice questions and detailed explanations for the Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传), helping you to fully grasp the content and the key points of the exam.
Download the full worksheet for freeFAQ
How does the "Biography of Yuan Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) Worksheet" help me prepare for the DSE Chinese exam?
GETUTOR worksheets help you to systematically grasp the key points of the text, characterisation and writing techniques, consolidate your knowledge through practice questions, and enhance your ability to take the exam.GETUTOR worksheets are specially designed for the DSE exam, covering common question types and answering techniques, and are a useful aid for exam preparation.
How do I remember the important words and sentences in the biography of Lian Bo (藺相如列传)?
The following methods are recommended: 1. study in segments, focusing on one event at a time; 2. make vocabulary cards with the original text on the front and the explanations on the back; 3. read the original text aloud over and over again to deepen your impression; 4. try to repeat the storyline in your own words; and 5. understand the meaning of the words in context instead of rote memorisation. GETUTOR's tutors can also provide more effective ways of memorisation.
What are the usual types of questions on Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) in the DSE Chinese exam?
Common question types include: 1. lexical interpretation questions, which examine the understanding of generic characters, multiple meanings of words, etc.; 2. sentence translation questions, which require the translation of literary sentences into modern Chinese; 3. content comprehension questions, which examine the understanding of the character and meaning of events; and 4. writing techniques analysis questions, which require the analysis of the author's writing techniques and their effects. Lexical interpretation and sentence translation are high-frequency questions in the past exams.
How do you analyse the characters in the biography of Lian Po (藺相如列传)?
When analysing the character of a character, the following points should be noted: 1) combine specific events with the character's words and actions; 2) analyse the character's motivation and psychology; 3) pay attention to the contrast between the characters; and 4) take into account the contemporary background and social environment. For example, when analysing the wit and courage of藺相如, you can combine it with how he dealt with the King of Qin in "Returning the jade annulus to Zhao"; when analysing Lian Bo's ability to correct his mistakes, you can combine it with the incident of "Boring the Bamboo and Inviting to Sins".
Conclusion
The Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列傳) is one of the twelve sample texts in the DSE Chinese Language. Through in-depth study and understanding of the text, we can not only master the reading skills of the Chinese language, but also learn valuable life wisdom from it. We can learn from the wisdom and courage of藺相如, his loyalty and love for the country, and the magnanimity of 藺相如, as well as Lian Bo's ability to rectify his mistakes, all of which are worthy of our study.
We hope that this worksheet will help you to fully grasp the content and assessment points of the Biography of Lian Bo (廉坡藺相如列传), and improve your DSE Chinese results. If you need more help, GETUTOR's team of professional tutors are always ready to support you.
Ready to improve your DSE Chinese results?
GETUTOR has a team of experienced DSE Chinese tutors who can provide you with personalised study plans and professional guidance to help you achieve excellent results in DSE.
Get paired with the right Chinese tutor for you today!
