杯酒释兵权
Traditional form:
杯酒釋兵權
Pinyin (reading):
bēijiǔshìbīngquán
Definitions:
- to dismiss military hierarchy using wine cups
- cf Song founding Emperor Song Taizu 宋太祖 holds a banquet in 961 and persuades his senior army commanders to go home to their provinces
Characters:
- 杯 - cup, glass; measure word for liquids
- 酒 - wine, spirits, liquor, alcohol
- 释 - to explain, to interpret; to release
- 兵 - soldier; troops, an army; warlike
- 权 - authority, power, right
Traditional characters: