The saying, "三年不饮湘江水,十年不食湘江鱼" (sān nián bù yǐn Xiāngjiāng shuǐ, shí nián bù shí Xiāngjiāng yú), which translates to "Don't drink the Xiang River water for three years; don't eat the Xiang River fish for ten years," is a visceral and haunting folk proverb.
It refers to one of the most brutal and catastrophic events of the Chinese Communist Party's Long March (1934-1935): the Battle of the Xiang River.
Here is a breakdown of its meaning:
1. The Historical Context: The Battle of the Xiang River (November-December 1934)
A Desperate Situation: The Red Army, fleeing the encircling Nationalist (KMT) forces, was forced to cross the Xiang River in Guangxi province. They were burdened with all their equipment, paperwork, and non-combatants, making them slow and vulnerable.
Overwhelming Force: They were met by a vastly superior KMT force, well-entrenched on the other side of the river. What ensued was a week of relentless, bloody combat. The Red Army soldiers were ordered to cross the river at any cost, facing horrific machine gun fire and aerial bombardment.
Staggering Losses: The battle was a disaster. Of the roughly 86,000 Red Army soldiers who started the Long March, it is estimated that over 50,000 were killed, wounded, or captured in this single battle. The water of the Xiang River was said to have run red with blood for days.
2. The Meaning of the Saying
The proverb is not meant to be taken literally as a public health warning. Instead, it is a profound and poetic expression of grief, horror, and sacrifice.
"Don't drink the water for three years": This signifies that the river was so thoroughly contaminated by the blood of the fallen soldiers that it would take years for it to run clean again.
"Don't eat the fish for ten years": This is an even more intense image. It suggests that the fish in the river had fed on the corpses of the dead for so long that it would take a full decade for a new generation of fish to grow, ensuring that none remained that had consumed human flesh.
3. Symbolism and Legacy
The saying serves several purposes:
A Memorial: It acts as a folk monument, preserving the memory of the immense sacrifice and tragedy of the battle in the cultural consciousness. It's a way of saying, "What happened here was so terrible that we must remember it every time we see this river."
A Tribute to Sacrifice: In modern China, the Battle of the Xiang River is portrayed as a testament to the incredible determination and sacrifice of the Red Army. Despite the horrific losses, the surviving core of the army broke through and continued the Long March, which ultimately led to their survival and eventual victory in 1949. The saying honors the soldiers who died to make that possible.
Emotional Hyperbole: It uses extreme metaphor to convey the sheer scale of the carnage and the deep emotional scar it left on the nation.