Chinese Idiom: 梁上君子 (Liang Shang Jun Zi)
English Translation: Gentleman on the Beam
pīn yīn: liáng shàng jūn zǐ
Idiom Meaning: This term is a euphemism for a thief. It is also used to describe a person who is out of touch with reality.
Historical Source: This idiom is derived from the historical text Book of the Later Han (后汉书), specifically the biography of Chen Ding.
Idiom Story:
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, in Xuxian County of Yingchuan, there was a man named Chen Shi. He was known for his fairness and often served as a mediator in disputes among neighbors, similar to an arbitration service today.
One year, a severe famine struck the Henan region, leading to widespread hunger among the people. One night, a thief sneaked into Chen Shi’s home and hid on the beams of the main room. Chen Shi noticed the thief but chose not to say anything. He thought to himself, “Although this thief has engaged in wrongful behavior, he was not born bad; I should help educate him to correct his ways.”
So, pretending not to see the thief, he got out of bed, called his children and grandchildren to the main room, and spoke to them with a serious tone: “One must always hold oneself to a high standard. A bad person is not necessarily born evil, but rather becomes so through bad habits. The gentleman on the beam is a prime example!”
Hearing this indirect reprimand, the thief realized he had been discovered. Shocked yet enlightened by Chen Shi’s words, he jumped down from the beams and prostrated himself before Chen Shi, pleading for forgiveness.
Chen Shi kindly advised him, “I don’t see you as a bad person; you should definitely correct this bad habit. However, this is likely a result of your poverty.” Afterward, he ordered his family to give the thief two bolts of white silk. The thief thanked him profusely and left. From that day on, theft became much less common in the area.
