Chinese Idiom: 各自为政 (Ge Zi Wei Zheng)
English Translation: Each governs their own affairs
pīn yīn: gè zì wèi zhèng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to individuals acting according to their own opinions without considering the overall situation.
Historical Source: “Zuo Zhuan” (《左传》), specifically in the section regarding the events of the second year of the reign of Duke Xuan.
Idiom Story:
In 607 BCE, during the Spring and Autumn period, the Duke of Zheng ordered Gui Sheng, a prince of Zheng, to attack the state of Song. In response, Song appointed Hua Yuan as the commander-in-chief and Yue Lü as his deputy to lead the troops against the Zheng forces.
Before the battle, Hua Yuan aimed to motivate his soldiers by rewarding them with a feast. He ordered the slaughter of several fat sheep and personally distributed the meat to his men. However, in the midst of this, he forgot to provide a portion for his charioteer, Yang Zhen. Feeling slighted for not receiving his share, Yang Zhen harbored resentment.
When the two armies met in battle, Yang Zhen declared, “The past sheep feast was your command; today, I shall take command of the battle!” With this, he drove Hua Yuan’s chariot straight into the enemy ranks, abandoning his commander and effectively allowing Hua Yuan to fall into enemy hands. Hua Yuan was captured, and Yue Lü was killed in the ensuing chaos.
Later, the Song state redeemed Hua Yuan with a hundred chariots and four hundred decorated horses. Realizing that his actions were unforgivable, Yang Zhen fled to the state of Lu to escape punishment.
The author of the “Zuo Zhuan” lamented this event, noting that many respected individuals criticized Yang Zhen for his betrayal, stating that acting on personal grievances at the expense of the state was a grave offense. He referenced ancient poetry to highlight the lack of integrity in individuals like Yang Zhen, who prioritized personal vendettas over the welfare of the people.
From this incident, the phrase “各自为政” was derived, signifying a lack of unity and coordination in governance, as each individual acted independently without regard for the collective good.
