📖 Meaning
All the people within the four seas turn their hearts toward a ruler, signifying that the entire realm submits to and supports one authority. It describes a state of unified popular allegiance across the land.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'Book of Northern Qi, Annals of Emperor Wenxuan' (《北齐书·文宣帝纪》), which records that with the hundred officials conducting themselves properly and no flawed policies at court, laws were lenient yet grace widespread, so all the realm turned its heart toward the sovereign. It is equivalent to the variant idiom '率土宅心'. The 'History of Yuan, Biography of Lian Xixian' (《元史·廉希宪传》) later employed it to praise a prince who gathered talented men and cared for the common people, thereby winning the hearts of all.
💡 Example Usage
文帝德化天下，四海晏然，率土归心。
Emperor Wen's virtue transformed the realm, the four seas were at peace, and all the land turned its heart toward him.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 率土归心
- Pinyin: shuài tǔ guī xīn
- Literal Translation: all the realm, return, heart
- Category: Leadership
- Characters: 4