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毛遂自荐 (mao2 sui2 zi4 jian4) Promote yourself in due modesty
March 15, 2009, Sunday
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IN China, modesty has been deemed a virtue for thousands of years. Sometimes Chinese modesty even seems hypocritical: a veteran master of martial art claims he is still a novice; or a Chinese host apologizes to his guests over a table of 10 dishes for not having enough to feed them.
In a country where people are reluctant to admit their abilities, most don't dare to publicly volunteer their services for fear of being called big-headed by others. So Mao Sui, who recommended himself to be an adviser to a local prince in 258 BC, is still famous today for his courage.
His name appears not only in history textbooks, but also in the popular idiom mao sui zi jian or "to offer one's service as Mao Sui did."
His story dates back to the Warring States Period (476-221 BC). When the State of Qin laid siege to the capital of the State of Zhao, a prince of Zhao was sent to seek help from the State of Chu.
The prince wanted to choose 20 advisers to go with him. But after picking 19 names, he could not find the 20th person worthy of joining his entourage.
Then, Mao, one of the prince's several hundred courtiers, came forward and recommended himself for the last vacancy.
"How long have you been with me?" the prince asked.
"Three years," he said.
"A capable man is like an awl (a tool for piercing holes in leather)," said the prince. "Once you put it into a cloth bag, its tip will immediately come out. So why haven't I heard of your name in these three years?"
"Because until today, I have never been put into that cloth bag like an awl," Mao answered.
Other courtiers laughed at Mao behind his back. But the prince decided to include him in his entourage. His decision proved right. When the prince's negotiation with the king of Chu came to a deadlock, Mao used a long sword and sharp words to convince the Chu monarch to form a military alliance with Zhao. When he returned home, Mao became a hero and was treated by the prince as a guest of honor for many years.
Today, the idiom m(r)°èo s(r)°?i z(r)°? ji(r)°?n has become a complimentary expression when it's used to describe someone who offers himself for a position or volunteers for a bigger role.
However, when it is used with the connotation of "one recommends oneself," this phrase becomes a kind of excuse: "I'm not being hoity-toity, I just follow what Mao did before."An expression of Chinese modesty.
In a country where people are reluctant to admit their abilities, most don't dare to publicly volunteer their services for fear of being called big-headed by others. So Mao Sui, who recommended himself to be an adviser to a local prince in 258 BC, is still famous today for his courage.
His name appears not only in history textbooks, but also in the popular idiom mao sui zi jian or "to offer one's service as Mao Sui did."
His story dates back to the Warring States Period (476-221 BC). When the State of Qin laid siege to the capital of the State of Zhao, a prince of Zhao was sent to seek help from the State of Chu.
The prince wanted to choose 20 advisers to go with him. But after picking 19 names, he could not find the 20th person worthy of joining his entourage.
Then, Mao, one of the prince's several hundred courtiers, came forward and recommended himself for the last vacancy.
"How long have you been with me?" the prince asked.
"Three years," he said.
"A capable man is like an awl (a tool for piercing holes in leather)," said the prince. "Once you put it into a cloth bag, its tip will immediately come out. So why haven't I heard of your name in these three years?"
"Because until today, I have never been put into that cloth bag like an awl," Mao answered.
Other courtiers laughed at Mao behind his back. But the prince decided to include him in his entourage. His decision proved right. When the prince's negotiation with the king of Chu came to a deadlock, Mao used a long sword and sharp words to convince the Chu monarch to form a military alliance with Zhao. When he returned home, Mao became a hero and was treated by the prince as a guest of honor for many years.
Today, the idiom m(r)°èo s(r)°?i z(r)°? ji(r)°?n has become a complimentary expression when it's used to describe someone who offers himself for a position or volunteers for a bigger role.
However, when it is used with the connotation of "one recommends oneself," this phrase becomes a kind of excuse: "I'm not being hoity-toity, I just follow what Mao did before."An expression of Chinese modesty.
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