Chinese Idiom: 骄奢淫逸 (Jiao She Yin Yi)
English Translation: Arrogance, Extravagance, and Debauchery
pīn yīn: jiāo shē yín yì
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to indulgence, luxury, debauchery, and a hedonistic lifestyle. It describes a life of excessive extravagance and moral decay. The components of the idiom are: “骄” (arrogant), “奢” (extravagant), “淫” (debauched), and “逸” (indulgent).
Historical Source: Zuo Zhuan (左传) – Annals of Duke Yin
Idiom Story:
During the Spring and Autumn Period, the ruler of the State of Wei, Duke Zhuang, was particularly fond of his favored concubine’s son, Zhou Yu. As Zhou Yu grew up, he became exceedingly willful and led a dissolute life, constantly causing trouble and behaving tyrannically. Duke Zhuang turned a blind eye to his son’s behavior and did not discipline him.
A nobleman named Shi Cuo advised Duke Zhuang, saying, “I have heard that a father should educate his children with virtue, guiding them away from evil paths. Arrogance, extravagance, debauchery, and indulgence stem from wickedness. These bad habits arise from excessive parental pampering.”
However, Duke Zhuang ignored the nobleman’s counsel, and Zhou Yu’s behavior worsened. Soon after, Duke Zhuang fell ill and passed away. His son, Ji Wan, succeeded him and became Duke Huan of Wei. In the following spring, Zhou Yu murdered his elder brother, Duke Huan, to seize the throne for himself.
Zhou Yu’s reign was marked by extreme cruelty, earning him a notorious reputation, which led to widespread opposition among the people of Wei. Within a year of usurping the throne, Shi Cuo allied with the ruler of the State of Chen and devised a plan to eliminate Zhou Yu. They successfully killed him, ending his tyrannical rule.
This idiom serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of indulgence and the consequences of failing to impose discipline and virtue in leadership and parenting.
