Chinese Idiom: 门庭若市 (Meng Ting Ruo Shi)
English Translation: A Thriving Scene at the Door
pīn yīn: mén tíng ruò shì
Idiom Meaning: Describes a scene where there is a constant flow of people coming and going, akin to a busy marketplace.
Historical Source: Strategies of the Warring States – Qi’s Strategy One
Idiom Story:
During the Warring States period in China, Qi State had a notable politician named Zou Ji, who was later appointed as the Prime Minister by King Wei of Qi. Zou Ji was not only learned but also handsome.
One morning, Zou Ji dressed up and asked his wife, “Who is more handsome, I or Xu Gong from the northern city?” His wife replied, “You are more handsome than Xu Gong.”
Doubtful, Zou Ji then asked his concubine, who also said Xu Gong was not as handsome as him. The next day, a guest visited, and Zou Ji asked him the same question. The guest gave the same answer, claiming Zou Ji was more handsome than Xu Gong.
However, after Xu Gong visited Zou Ji’s home, Zou Ji observed Xu Gong closely and felt that Xu Gong was actually more handsome. This left Zou Ji puzzled and questioning why his wife, concubine, and guest all claimed he was more attractive.
After much contemplation, Zou Ji concluded that: “My wife praises me because of her affection; my concubine agrees with me out of fear; and the guest compliments me because he wants something from me.”
Zou Ji shared his realization with King Wei of Qi. He explained that just as people close to him might flatter him for personal reasons, King Wei might also be surrounded by people who were biased or self-serving.
King Wei was impressed by Zou Ji’s insight and decided to issue an edict: anyone who openly criticized his faults would be rewarded. Those who submitted written suggestions would receive a medium reward, and those who publicly discussed his mistakes in the streets would receive the lowest reward.
Following this edict, the palace became inundated with officials and commoners bringing their criticisms and suggestions. The doorways and courtyards were crowded, resembling a bustling marketplace. However, after a few months, the flow of criticism slowed as the initial enthusiasm waned.
Due to King Wei’s openness to criticism and willingness to address issues, the Qi State grew stronger without military conflict, and neighboring states like Yan, Zhao, Han, and Wei submitted to Qi’s power.
From this story, the idiom “门庭若市” (A Thriving Scene at the Door) was derived to describe a bustling, busy scene at someone’s door, akin to a lively marketplace.
