Let the Tiger Escape

The Chinese idiom 纵虎归山 (zong4 hu3 gui1 shan1) literally means release the tiger to the mountains. The idiom comes from a story about Liu Bei, prior to him becoming a hero during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280).

During the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220), China was thrust into a civil war. At the time, Liu Bei was one of the fighting warlords. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of another warload, Liu Bei approached Cao Cao - who later became ruler of the Wei Kingdom - for protection. One of Cao's advisers warned him that Liu was an ambitious man who could become a rival and throw a spanner in the works of Cao's plan for unifying the country. The adviser repeatedly tried to persuade Cao to kill Liu. Cao refused to do so. Instead he took Liu into his confidence and showed him generous hospitality and respect.

One day, Liu offered to lead Cao's army to attack the invading enemy. Cao agreed. This incensed Cao's suspicious adviser. Again, he warned Cao of the dangers.

This is like freeing the dragon to the sea and allowing a tiger to return to the mountains. It could lead to serious problems in the future, so you had better order Liu to return with the troops immediately.

But the horse had already bolted. Liu refused to obey the new order from Cao. He left the territory controlled by Cao's troops and eventually set up his own kingdom. As the adviser had foretold, Liu became one of Cao's chief rivals.

Chinese speakers frequently use this idiom to describe any decision that has potentially disasterous future consequences. English speakers might describe such behaviour as sowing dragon's teeth.