Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, came from humble beginnings as a low-ranking village official in Pei County during the Qin Dynasty. After Chen Sheng and Wu Guang sparked a rebellion, he rallied a few hundred followers—including his close friends Fan Kuai, Xiao He, and Xiahou Ying—and together they killed the county magistrate to join the uprising. These men later became the founding heroes of the Han Dynasty.
Fan Kuai, originally a dog butcher who sold dog meat, married Liu Bang's sister-in-law Lü Xu, becoming Liu Bang's brother-in-law. When Liu Bang became emperor, Fan Kuai rose to become a member of the imperial family and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wuyang.
Xiahou Ying was originally a stable hand at the county office
After Liu Bang launched his uprising, a man named Guan Ying from Suiyang came to join him. Originally a small merchant, Guan Ying first served as Liu Bang's personal attendant and later became his trusted confidant. When Liu Bang founded the Han Dynasty, Xiahou Ying was enfeoffed as Marquis of Ruyin, and Guan Ying was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yingyang.
Later, when Liu Bang was advancing west toward Xianyang, a minor official from Chenliu named Li Yiji advised him to capture Chenliu first, securing ample troops and supplies. Li Yiji then recommended his younger brother, Li Shang, to Liu Bang. Li Shang brought four thousand soldiers to Liu Bang, who appointed him as a deputy general, and Li Shang achieved many merits. After Liu Bang became emperor, he enfeoffed Li Shang as the Marquis of Quchou.
The author of the *Book of Han* commented after writing biographies for Fan Kuai, Xiahou Ying, Guan Ying, and Li Shang:
"Fan Kuai and the other three were originally of humble origins, but by befriending Liu Bang, it was as if they clung to dragon scales and phoenix wings, earning noble titles and rewards." Later, the idiom "Clinging to Dragons and Phoenixes" came to describe those who curry favor with or attach themselves to powerful figures.
Source: *Book of Han*, "Narrative Biography"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "攀龙附凤" came to describe those who curry favor with or attach themselves to powerful figures.