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为虎作伥 (Wèi hǔ zuò chāng)

Act as a chang ghost for the tiger—Help a villain do evil

伥Chāng is the ghost of someone devoured by the tiger in ancient Chinese legend. Legend says, the 伥chāng  ghost helps the tiger eat other people. The idiom 为虎作伥(Wèi hǔ zuò chāng) has developed from a very old Chinese fable.

Long, long ago, once a tyrannical tiger was out hunting for food in the forest. To his delight, he caught sight of a man. The beast stole near, sprang on the man, killed him and made a nice meal of him. Ferocious and greedy, the tiger didn’t let the soul of his victim go. The soul now had become a ghost which is called the 伥chāng . The beast said he would let the 伥chāng  go only after the ghost find him another man to eat. Then the soul of the second man would take his place.

The chāng ghost was most willing to help the tiger. He guided the tiger to another man, and even helped undress the new victim so that the tiger could eat him more easily.

The popularity of this story shows people’s hatred for those who regard the enemy as kith and kin and serve as a jackal for scoundrels and villains.

为虎作伥(Wèi hǔ zuò chāng) is close to the English saying “To hold a candle to the devil”.

病入膏肓 (Bìng rù gāo huāng )

The disease has attacked the vitals — sick beyond cure

Gao refers the region below the heart. Another source says Gao is the fat on the tip of the heart. Huang is the region between the heart and the diaphragm. People in ancient China believed that when the ailment reached Gao and Huang, it’s incurable. If we say someone 病入膏肓(Bìng rù gāo huāng ),we mean he has no hope of recovery.

In the year 581BC during the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Jing of the Dukedom of Jin fell ill. One day the sick duke had a dream. In his dream, a long-haired devil thumping his chest and stamping his feet, said to the Duke, “you killed my descendants. God has approved my request to punish you.” The frightened Duke escaped to the inner room. But the devil forced his way in. with a start, the Duke woke up. He summoned a wizard to the palace. The wizard predicted that the Duke couldn’t live to the summer harvest.

Duke Jing’s health deteriorated. He sent someone to the Dukedom of Qin for help. Duke Huan of Qin sent a doctor called Yuan to treat Duke Jing. Before the doctor arrived, the sick Duke had another dream. This time, he dreamed that his aliment became two children. One said to the other, “a good doctor is coming. I’m afraid that he’ll harm me. Where shall I hide?” the other said, “don’t worry. We are above Huang and Below Gao. This is a very safe place. What can he do about us?”

After examining Duke Jing’s case, Doctor Yuan said, “The illness is incurable. It’s between Gao and Huang. No acupuncture needle or medicine can reach it.”

Duke Jing nodded and said, “A very good doctor indeed.” He presented him with handsome gifts and sent him back to Qin.

The idiom 病入膏肓(Bìng rù gāo huāng ) is used not only ofr a person who is mortally sick, but also for a serious situation which cannot be remedied.