Chinese Idiom: 木人石心 (Mu Ren Shi Xin)
English Translation: Wooden Person, Stone Heart
pīn yīn: mù rén shí xīn
Idiom Meaning: Describes someone who is not swayed by wealth, fame, or seduction, remaining steadfast and unmoved by external temptations.
Historical Source: Book of Jin (《晋书·夏统传》)
Idiom Story
Xia Tong, a man from the Jin Dynasty, was renowned for his talent and eloquence. Despite his fame, he turned down numerous offers to become an official.
On one occasion, Xia Tong visited the capital, Luoyang, where the influential Taiwei Jia Chong sought to recruit him to increase his own power. Jia Chong tried to entice Xia Tong with displays of military might and luxurious carriages. He paraded his neatly arranged troops and elegant vehicles before Xia Tong, boasting, “If you agree to serve as an official by my side, you could command these troops and ride in such splendid carriages. Wouldn’t that be enviable?”
Xia Tong remained unmoved, as if he hadn’t even noticed the extravagant display. Jia Chong, not giving up, then arranged for a group of beautiful women to dance and sing for Xia Tong, hoping to tempt him. However, Xia Tong stood there like a wooden statue, completely indifferent. Jia Chong, bewildered by Xia Tong’s unshakeable demeanor, remarked, “Such a person is truly a rarity! It’s as if he is a wooden person with a stone heart!”
