"Shi si ru gui" (to look upon death as going home) means to regard death as ordinary as returning home, describing someone who, for a just cause or a noble ideal, faces death without fear and with perfect composure. This idiom originates from the *Lüshi Chunqiu · Wu Gong*, where the original text reads, "The soldiers of the three armies look upon death as going home," praising the brave and fearless spirit of the troops. In its deeper meaning, it emphasizes a spiritual realm that transcends life and death, embodying absolute loyalty to one's convictions and a complete overcoming of fear. It is mostly used to describe heroes, revolutionary martyrs, or warriors who step forward in times of crisis, carrying a strongly commendatory and reverent tone. In terms of cultural background, it is in the same vein as the values of "sacrificing life for righteousness" and "dying to achieve benevolence" in traditional Chinese culture, serving as a symbol of the moral integrity and sense of responsibility of the Chinese nation. In emotional coloring, it is solemn, tragic yet stirring, and is often used to inspire admiration and patriotic sentiment.
📝 Example
1. Facing the enemy's guillotine, Liu Hulan looked upon death as a return home, shouting "Long live the Communist Party" as she died a heroic death. (Describing how she faced death without fear and sacrificed herself calmly.)
2. When the firefighters rushed into the sea of fire, they looked upon death as a return home, with only the belief of protecting the people's lives and property in their hearts. (Describing how they disregarded personal safety and were brave and fearless.)