Love Me, Love My Dog | 爱屋及乌

点击查看中英对照

In ancient China, there was a state called Zhou. One day, the King of Zhou sought advice from his officials on how to handle prisoners of war.

The first official said, "I have heard a saying: 'If you love someone, you will love even the crows on his roof; if you hate someone, you will hate even the walls of his house.' These prisoners were our enemies. In my opinion, we should execute them all."

The king disagreed.

A second official proposed, "We should differentiate the prisoners, separating the guilty from the innocent. The guilty should be put to death to prevent future trouble."

The king found this suggestion also unsatisfactory.

Finally, a third official advised, "Your Majesty, I believe we should release all prisoners and send them home to farm and support themselves through their own labor. Furthermore, you must enforce rules of reward and punishment strictly and impartially, even with your own relatives and friends. Governing the country through both virtue and law will surely win the people's trust."

The king found this proposal quite reasonable and implemented it. Consequently, domestic order was quickly restored, and the state grew more stable and prosperous.

This story is the origin of the idiom "Love me, love my dog," which means that affection for someone extends to everything associated with that person.

阅读记录
请先 登录 后记录阅读完成
为这篇文章评分
点击星星进行评分(1-5分)
相关文章
The Plum Dies for the Peach | 李代桃僵

This idiom, derived from a folk song, uses the metaphor o...

chinese-idiom culture
Adding the Finishing Touch | 画龙点睛

The idiom 'Adding the Finishing Touch' originates from a ...

chinese-idiom culture
At the End of One's Tether | 日暮途穷

This article recounts the story of Wu Zixu from the Sprin...

chinese-idiom culture
Birds of a Feather | 一丘之貉

This article explains the Chinese idiom "一丘之貉" (Birds of ...

chinese-idiom culture
Open the Net on Three Sides | 网开一面

The story recounts how Tang, founder of the Shang Dynasty...

ancient-wisdom chinese-history
Riding a Tiger | 骑虎难下

The article explains the Chinese idiom "Riding a Tiger," ...

chinese-idiom culture
Broken Mirror Rejoined | 破镜重圆

This article recounts the ancient Chinese story behind th...

chinese-idiom culture
Much Ado Over Hearsay | 甚嚣尘上

This article recounts the historical origin of the Chines...

chinese-idiom culture
Bristling with Anger | 怒发冲冠

This passage recounts the historical story behind the Chi...

chinese-idiom culture
Besieged on All Sides | 四面楚歌

This article recounts the historical origin of the Chines...

chinese-idiom culture
The Black Sheep | 害群之马

The idiom 'The Black Sheep' originates from a story where...

chinese-idiom culture
Calling a Stag a Horse | 指鹿为马

The story of Prime Minister Zhao Gao testing court loyalt...

chinese-idiom culture
Lower the Banners and Silence the Drums | 偃旗息鼓

This idiom originates from a Three Kingdoms stratagem whe...

chinese-idiom culture
Pulling Up Seedlings to Help Them Grow | 揠苗助长

An impatient farmer pulls up his rice shoots to make them...

chinese-idiom culture
Beat the Grass and Startle the Snake | 打草惊蛇

The idiom 'Beat the grass and startle the snake' originat...

chinese-idiom culture
A Dagger Behind the Smile | 笑里藏刀

This story recounts how the Tang Dynasty minister Li Yifu...

chinese-history culture
The Man of Qi Who Feared the Sky | 杞人忧天

This fable tells of a man from Qi who was paralyzed by th...

chinese-idiom culture
The Mirror | 镜子

A vain Spaniel mistakes his own reflection for a rival, b...

animal-story fable
The King Who Cried Drum | 楚王击鼓

King Li of Chu foolishly beats the emergency drum as a dr...

chinese-culture educational
Playing the Lute to a Cow | 对牛弹琴

This story tells of a musician who played elegant music f...

chinese-idiom communication