Chinese Idiom: 欺世盗名 (Qi Shi Dao Ming)
English Translation: Deceive the World and Steal Reputation
pīn yīn: qī shì dào míng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to deceiving the public through improper means to seize fame or reputation.
Historical Source: From Xunzi: Buge (《荀子·不苟》) by Xunzi (荀子).
Idiom Story:
Xunzi, a famous thinker during the Warring States period, wrote about two incidents in his essay Buge:
- The first incident involves a minister named Shi Yu from the State of Wei. He repeatedly advised Duke Ling of Wei to employ a man named Qu Boyu and not to use Mi Zixia, but his advice was consistently ignored by the duke. Shi Yu felt deeply unsatisfied and, even on his deathbed, urged his son, saying: “I have repeatedly advised Duke Ling to appoint Qu Boyu, but he has not listened. As a minister, I could not correct my lord’s mistakes in life, and thus, I should not be buried after death.” Upon hearing this, Duke Ling was moved and resolved to change his ways.
- The second incident concerns a man named Tian Zhong from the State of Qi. His brother held a high official position and earned a salary of tens of thousands of stones, yet Tian Zhong neither sought an official position for himself nor accepted help from his brother. Instead, he chose to live by farming vegetables.
The unusual actions of these two men garnered much praise from others. However, Xunzi believed that:
“These actions are not those of virtuous individuals; rather, they are the deeds of cunning people who deceive the world to steal reputation in dark times, and this is extremely dangerous.”
In other words, both individuals were engaged in acts of reputation theft. Xunzi warned that such deceitful people could manipulate the chaotic times to gain false fame, which posed significant risks.
Over time, this phrase was simplified and evolved into the idiom “欺世盗名,” denoting actions that involve deceiving society to gain illegitimate recognition.
