The Xia Dynasty, founded by Yu the Great, lasted about four hundred years until Jie became its supreme ruler in the 18th century BC. Jie was a tyrannical and dissolute king, whose rule aroused great resentment among the people.
Tang, the chief of the Shang tribe, seized this opportunity to overthrow the Xia Dynasty, establishing the Shang Dynasty in the early 17th century BC. A key part of his strategy was winning popular support.
One day, while walking in the countryside, Tang saw a man catching birds with a large net. The man was chanting, "Come, birds! Come into my net! All of you, flying high or low, east or west, come into my net!"
Tang approached him and said, "This method is too ruthless! It will spare no bird." He then cut the net on three sides and murmured softly, as if in prayer, "Oh birds! Fly left or right as you wish. Only if you are tired of life, enter this net."
When other tribal chiefs heard of this, they were deeply moved. "Tang is truly a good leader," they said. "He shows such kindness even to birds and beasts. He must be even more merciful to people." Soon after, about forty tribes pledged their allegiance to Tang.
This story gave rise to the idiom "Open the net on three sides," later paraphrased as "Give the wrongdoer a way out," meaning to show leniency.