📖 Meaning
This idiom refers to law-upholding ministers who understand statutes and wise advisors who assist the ruler. It describes loyal and capable officials who help govern a state. The term emphasizes the importance of having principled, competent counsel within a government.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Mencius (孟子·告子下), a text from the Warring States period authored by the philosopher Mencius and his disciples. Mencius argued that a state which lacks law-abiding ministers internally and faces no external threats will inevitably perish, because without pressure or wise counsel, a ruler becomes complacent and corrupt. The '法家' refers to ministers who uphold laws and institutions, while '拂士' (where 拂 is a loan for 弼, meaning to assist) denotes scholars who advise and correct the ruler. The passage became a famous warning about the necessity of internal checks and external challenges for national survival.
💡 Example Usage
国家欲长治久安，不可无法家拂士进谏辅政。
For a nation to enjoy lasting peace and stability, it cannot do without law-upholding ministers and wise advisors to offer counsel and assist in governance.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 法家拂士
- Pinyin: fǎ jiā bì shì
- Literal Translation: law, family, assist, scholar
- Category: Leadership
- Characters: 4