Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 滥竽充数Pinyin: làn yú chōng shùLiteral Meaning: Play the yu poorly merely to make up the number. Figurative definition Cultural & historical background This idiom comes from Han Feizi · Inner Congruences, Part I. The yu was an ancient wind instrument similar to the sheng. King Xuan of Qi enjoyed large‑scale…
When King Xuan of Qi* called for reed pipe music, he would have three hundred men playing at the same time.