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Imperial indulgences -- 贪生怕死 (tan1 sheng1 pa4 si3)
By Zhang Ciyun |
September 6, 2009, Sunday
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It's natural that most people love life and fear death. But a man would be deemed a coward if he led a dishonorable life simply for fear of death.
In the Chinese language, a popular saying to this effect is "tan1 sheng1 pa4 si3" or "to covet life and fear death."
The phrase was first used to describe Liu Li, an ill-famed king of the feudal state of Liang during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).
After becoming the king of Liang, Liu wielded absolute power and oppressed the people. Upset by his behavior, many of Liu's aides complained to the imperial court of the Han Dynasty.
At first, the emperor intended to punish Liu. But some of the emperor's advisers said that according to Confucius' teachings, nobles should not be punished like common people if they violated imperial laws.
This idea was created to protect the reputation of the imperial court and the emperor.
So, instead of penalizing the king, they suggested the emperor ignore the complaints and offer more benefits to the king to show his generosity and tolerance. The emperor agreed.
The king of Liang took the emperor's decision as an implied encouragement. As a result, he acted more recklessly than ever before.
He even executed three of his aides in reprisal for their telling the emperor about his wrongdoings. He threw others involved into jail.
It was not until a new emperor ascended to the throne that the imperial court sent several high-ranking officials to Liang to investigate Liu's conduct. The inspectors told the king that he might be dethroned if he did not mend his ways.
This time Liu realized the seriousness of the matter and asked the new emperor for amnesty.
He told the imperial court that he was just a creature who coveted life and feared death. But he did not have any intention to act against the emperor's will.
Like his predecessor, the new emperor forgave Liu and let him escape punishment again. Surprisingly, the thanatophobiac king eventually committed suicide after he was bogged down in a quagmire of power struggles.
Today, the phrase quoted by the tyrant king has a derogatory connotation and is often used to describe anyone who prefers life to honor or who cares nothing but saving his skin.
In the Chinese language, a popular saying to this effect is "tan1 sheng1 pa4 si3" or "to covet life and fear death."
The phrase was first used to describe Liu Li, an ill-famed king of the feudal state of Liang during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).
After becoming the king of Liang, Liu wielded absolute power and oppressed the people. Upset by his behavior, many of Liu's aides complained to the imperial court of the Han Dynasty.
At first, the emperor intended to punish Liu. But some of the emperor's advisers said that according to Confucius' teachings, nobles should not be punished like common people if they violated imperial laws.
This idea was created to protect the reputation of the imperial court and the emperor.
So, instead of penalizing the king, they suggested the emperor ignore the complaints and offer more benefits to the king to show his generosity and tolerance. The emperor agreed.
The king of Liang took the emperor's decision as an implied encouragement. As a result, he acted more recklessly than ever before.
He even executed three of his aides in reprisal for their telling the emperor about his wrongdoings. He threw others involved into jail.
It was not until a new emperor ascended to the throne that the imperial court sent several high-ranking officials to Liang to investigate Liu's conduct. The inspectors told the king that he might be dethroned if he did not mend his ways.
This time Liu realized the seriousness of the matter and asked the new emperor for amnesty.
He told the imperial court that he was just a creature who coveted life and feared death. But he did not have any intention to act against the emperor's will.
Like his predecessor, the new emperor forgave Liu and let him escape punishment again. Surprisingly, the thanatophobiac king eventually committed suicide after he was bogged down in a quagmire of power struggles.
Today, the phrase quoted by the tyrant king has a derogatory connotation and is often used to describe anyone who prefers life to honor or who cares nothing but saving his skin.
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