During the Spring and Autumn period, a Chu general named Qu Xia led a campaign and won by sheer luck. Puffed up with pride, he strutted around declaring himself an invincible commander, looking down on everyone. His arrogance soon led to his downfall in the next battle, proving that overconfidence can undo even the most fortunate. This story reminds us that true strength lies in humility, not in fleeting victories.
Two years later, King Wu of Chu, angered that the small neighboring state of Luo had stopped paying tribute, dispatched General Qu Xia to lead an expedition against it.
On the day of the campaign, all the ministers came to see him off. Minister Dou Bobi saw Qu Xia looking arrogant and knew that an overconfident army was doomed to defeat. He said to his charioteer, "Drive me quickly to the palace. With Qu Xia in this state, he cannot defeat the State of Luo."
The charioteer immediately drove to the palace. Dou Bobi met King Wu of Chu and urged, "Your Majesty, please send reinforcements to Qu Xia at once!" The king replied in surprise, "Our army has just set out—how can we already need reinforcements? There are no more troops left in the kingdom!" Later, King Wu returned to the inner court and said to the queen, "Dou Bobi clearly knows I have no troops to spare, yet he insists I send reinforcements to Qu Xia. Why would he do that?" The queen replied, "I believe Dou Bobi meant that Qu Xia, relying on past victories, has grown arrogant and may fail in his campaign against Luo. Your Majesty should immediately send a warning to Qu Xia."
King Wu found the reasoning sound and immediately sent riders to chase after Qu Xia, but it was already too late to catch him.
Soon after, Qu Xia led his army to the state of Luo and launched an assault on its capital. However, the Luo soldiers and civilians were already well-prepared. Seeing the Chu forces disorganized and poorly commanded, the Luo army opened their gates and counterattacked, crushing the Chu troops in a decisive defeat.
Defeated in battle, Qu Xia fled on horseback, only to realize he was completely alone—not a single soldier remained by his side. Overwhelmed by shame at the thought of facing King Wu, he took his own life.
Other generals fled to Yingdu to see King Wu and begged for forgiveness. The king said sorrowfully, "This is my fault. I wrongly appointed Qu Xia as general, which led to today's defeat." Later, the idiom "strutting with head held high" came to describe someone walking with an exaggeratedly proud gait, symbolizing arrogance and complacency.
Source: *Zuo Zhuan*, Chapter "Duke Huan, Year 13"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "趾高气扬" came to describe how someone walking with an exaggeratedly proud gait symbolizes arrogance and complacency.