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三人成虎 (san1 ren2 cheng2 hu3) Lies turning into truths
By Zhang Ciyun |
July 19, 2009, Sunday
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LIES, if repeated often enough, become truths. Chinese often cite the idiom san1 ren2 cheng2 hu3 or "three men make a tiger" to illustrate this idea.
The expression was first quoted by Pang Cong, an official in the State of Wei during the Warring States Period (476-221 BC).
The State of Wei signed a treaty with the State of Zhao to form an alliance. As was the custom at the time, the Wei king had to send his son as a hostage for a set term to the State of Zhao in order to minimize suspicion between the two sides. Pang Cong was selected to go with the prince.
Before departure, Pang asked the king: "If someone reported to Your Highness that a tiger was loose in the market, would you believe him?" "Of course, I wouldn't," the king answered.
"If a second man came to tell you that a tiger was loose in the street, would you believe it then?" Pang pressed. "I might start wondering about it," the king replied.
Pang continued: "If a third man came to report news of a tiger in the street, then would you finally buy it?" he asked.
After pondering for a moment, the king said: "Yes, I'd probably believe it."
Pang told the king that after he left for the State of Zhao there might be more than three people talking him down behind his back. He hoped that the king would make his own judgment without being influenced by others.
The king said: "Don't worry. I trust you and I know how to make my own judgments."
After Pang left, several of his colleagues began slandering him in front of the king. Eventually the king became suspicious of Pang's loyalty.
When Pang returned with the prince after serving the hostage term, he found himself having fallen into disfavor.
After all, the king could not make a fair judgment after listening to too many stories about a "tiger."
Nowadays, Pan's idiom invoking "tiger" is often used to warn people against believing liars. But, unfortunately, it has also become a ploy frequently adopted by some crooked minds to disseminate false information or to incriminate the innocents.
The expression was first quoted by Pang Cong, an official in the State of Wei during the Warring States Period (476-221 BC).
The State of Wei signed a treaty with the State of Zhao to form an alliance. As was the custom at the time, the Wei king had to send his son as a hostage for a set term to the State of Zhao in order to minimize suspicion between the two sides. Pang Cong was selected to go with the prince.
Before departure, Pang asked the king: "If someone reported to Your Highness that a tiger was loose in the market, would you believe him?" "Of course, I wouldn't," the king answered.
"If a second man came to tell you that a tiger was loose in the street, would you believe it then?" Pang pressed. "I might start wondering about it," the king replied.
Pang continued: "If a third man came to report news of a tiger in the street, then would you finally buy it?" he asked.
After pondering for a moment, the king said: "Yes, I'd probably believe it."
Pang told the king that after he left for the State of Zhao there might be more than three people talking him down behind his back. He hoped that the king would make his own judgment without being influenced by others.
The king said: "Don't worry. I trust you and I know how to make my own judgments."
After Pang left, several of his colleagues began slandering him in front of the king. Eventually the king became suspicious of Pang's loyalty.
When Pang returned with the prince after serving the hostage term, he found himself having fallen into disfavor.
After all, the king could not make a fair judgment after listening to too many stories about a "tiger."
Nowadays, Pan's idiom invoking "tiger" is often used to warn people against believing liars. But, unfortunately, it has also become a ploy frequently adopted by some crooked minds to disseminate false information or to incriminate the innocents.
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