📖 Meaning
This idiom refers to benefits and advantages that endure for a hundred generations—that is, long-term interests that serve countless future descendants. It is used to describe far-sighted policies or actions whose value persists far beyond the present, in contrast to short-term expediency.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Lüshi Chunqiu (Mr. Lü's Annals), a text compiled during the late Warring States period under the patronage of Lü Buwei, chancellor of the state of Qin. In the chapter 'Yi Shang' (Righteous Rewards), it recounts how Duke Wen of Jin consulted his ministers before the Battle of Chengpu against the state of Chu. His minister Yong Ji counseled him on principles of faithfulness and lasting virtue, while another minister, Jiu Fan, offered clever tactical schemes. After winning the battle using Jiu Fan's tactics, Duke Wen nonetheless rewarded Yong Ji more generously, declaring that 'Yong Ji's words are the benefit of a hundred generations, while Jiu Fan's words are but the affairs of a single moment.' The story became a classical illustration of valuing enduring wisdom over momentary cleverness.
💡 Example Usage
兴修水利乃百世之利，不可因耗费巨大而废止。
Building water conservancy works yields benefit for a hundred generations, and must not be abandoned merely because of great expense.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 百世之利
- Pinyin: bǎi shì zhī lì
- Literal Translation: hundred, generations, of, benefit
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4