Chinese Idiom: 一毛不拔 (Yi Mao Bu Ba)
English Translation: Stinginess to the Extreme
pīn yīn: yī máo bù bá
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to someone who is extremely stingy or selfish, unwilling to give up even the smallest thing. “毛” refers to hair, emphasizing the minute nature of what is being withheld.
Historical Source: Mencius (Jin Xin I).
Idiom Story: During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, China saw the emergence of the Mohist school, which was in opposition to Confucianism. The founder of Mohism was Mo Di, also known as Mozi. It is said that Mo Di was originally from the State of Song and later lived in the State of Lu. He initially studied Confucianism but was dissatisfied with its complicated rituals, so he established his own teachings and gathered disciples to form the Mohist school. His doctrines, such as “against fate” and “universal love,” opposed the Confucian ideas of “destiny” and “differentiated love.” His principle of “non-aggression” reflected the common people’s desire to resist war, and his advocacy for “frugality in use” and “simplicity in burial” criticized the extravagant lifestyles of the ruling aristocracy.
Around the same time, there was a philosopher named Yang Zhu from the State of Wei. He opposed both Mozi’s “universal love” and Confucian ethical principles, advocating for “cherishing life” and “valuing oneself.” He emphasized preserving one’s own life and opposed both taking from others and allowing others to take from oneself. Although Yang Zhu did not leave any written works, fragments of his thoughts are found in texts such as Mencius, Zhuangzi, Han Feizi, and The Annals of Lü Buwei.
Yang Zhu’s philosophy of “self-interest” promoted extreme individualism and was criticized by both the Mohist and Confucian schools. According to one story, Mozi’s disciple Qin Huali once asked Yang Zhu, “If plucking a single hair from your body could benefit the entire world, would you do it?” Yang Zhu replied, “The problems of the world cannot be solved by plucking a single hair.” Qin Huali persisted, “But if it could, would you do it?” Yang Zhu remained silent.
Commenting on Yang Zhu and Mozi, Mencius once said, “Yang Zhu advocates for self-interest and would not pluck a single hair to benefit the world. Mozi advocates for universal love, willing to wear himself out for the benefit of the world.”
Mencius’s phrase “Yang Zhu advocates for self-interest and would not pluck a single hair to benefit the world” was later simplified and extended to form the idiom “stinginess to the extreme” (一毛不拔).
