Chinese Idiom: 分崩离析 (Fen Beng Li Xi)
English Translation: To fall apart
pīn yīn: fēn bēng lí xī
Idiom Meaning: It refers to a situation where a country or organization is in a state of severe disintegration and chaos, unable to be managed or unified.
Historical Source: The Analects of Confucius: Ji Shi (《论语·季氏》).
Idiom Story
During the Spring and Autumn period, the powerful official Ji Kangzi (季康子) resided in the city of Fei (modern-day Feixian, Shandong). Although he held the title of a high-ranking official, his influence and power exceeded that of the ruling Duke Ai of Lu. Ji Kangzi aimed to expand and consolidate his power by attacking the neighboring small state of Zhuanxu.
Confucius’ disciples, Ran You and Zi Lu, were among Ji Kangzi’s advisors. They found it difficult to dissuade Ji Kangzi from his aggressive plans and sought Confucius’ advice. Confucius expressed doubt that it was Ran You’s idea, to which Ran You replied that the plan was indeed Ji Kangzi’s, but he and Zi Lu were attempting to stop it.
Confucius advised against the attack, arguing that the focus of governance should not be on territorial expansion but on ensuring the welfare and stability of the people. He emphasized that a prosperous and strong country comes from ensuring that its citizens are content and that the state should be governed with benevolence, propriety, and cultural education. Confucius warned that Ji Kangzi’s desire to attack Zhuanxu would be futile if his own country was in a state of internal disarray. He predicted that the real trouble would not come from external enemies but from the disintegration and internal strife within Ji Kangzi’s own state.
The phrase “分崩离析” thus came to describe a state of complete fragmentation and disunity, illustrating the concept that internal instability can lead to the collapse of one’s own domain.
