替天行道

Chinese

		to substitute for; to take the place of; to replace to substitute for; to take the place of; to replace; for; on behalf of; to stand in for	day; sky; heaven	to go; to do; capable to go; to do; capable; all right; competent; OK; to travel; temporary; to walk; will do; behaviour; conduct; a row; profession; professional	direction; way; method direction; way; method; road; path; principle; truth; reason; skill; Tao (of Taoism); a measure word; to say; to speak; to talk
trad. (替天行道)		替	天	行	道
simp. #(替天行道)		替	天	行	道

Etymology

From the Yuan dynasty's zaju play 梁山泊李逵負荊 (Li Kui from Mount Liang's Marsh Offers an Apology) by 康進之 (Kang Jinzhi):

杏黃旗上七個字，替天行道救生民。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]

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杏黄旗上七个字，替天行道救生民。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

Xìnghuáng qí shàng qī ge zì, tìtiānxíngdào jiùshēng mín. [Pinyin]

On the apricot-yellow flag are seven characters: Enforce the Way on Behalf of Heaven and Save People's Lives.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): tìtiānxíngdào

  (Zhuyin): ㄊㄧˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄠˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): tai³ tin¹ hang⁴ dou⁶

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: tìtiānxíngdào
    • Zhuyin: ㄊㄧˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄠˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: tìtiansíngdào
    • Wade–Giles: tʻi⁴-tʻien¹-hsing²-tao⁴
    • Yale: tì-tyān-syíng-dàu
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tihtianshyngdaw
    • Palladius: титяньсиндао (titjanʹsindao)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰi⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: tai³ tin¹ hang⁴ dou⁶
    • Yale: tai tīn hàhng douh
    • Cantonese Pinyin: tai³ tin¹ hang⁴ dou⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: tei³ tin¹ heng⁴ dou⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰɐi̯³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹ tou̯²²/

Idiom

替天行道

1. to enforce justice for the heavens

   • 正是：替天行道人將至，仗義疏財漢便來。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     正是：替天行道人将至，仗义疏财汉便来。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14^th century CE

     Zhèngshì: Tìtiānxíngdàorén jiāng zhì, zhàngyìshūcáihàn biàn lái. [Pinyin]

     Indeed: The man to enforce the Way on behalf of Heaven is coming; the gallant to finance the upholding of justice will arrive soon.

   • 操曰：「吾替天行道，安忍殺戮人民？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     操曰：「吾替天行道，安忍杀戮人民？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14^th century CE

     Cāo yuē: “Wú tìtiānxíngdào, ān rěn shālù rénmín?” [Pinyin]

     (Cao) Cao said: "I am enforcing the Way on behalf of Heaven, how can I ruthlessly slaughter people?"