Tian Gao Huang-di Yuan
This Chinese proverb is often translated as "Heaven is high, and the emperor is far away." The character-by-character meaning is literally "Heaven high Emperor far away." The saying is Mandarin Chinese in origin, and it is thought to have come from Zhejiang province in the Yuan Dynasty.[1]
Connections between the Chinese Central Government in Beijing and the people were historically weak, leading to little loyalty.[2] and little governance.[3][4][5][6] The proverb has thus come to generally mean that central authorities have little influence over local affairs, and it is often used in reference to corruption.[7]
The saying, as it is considered in China, has multiple meanings. Often it involves something minor such as walking on the grass when no one is watching, ignoring a familial command because the father is far away, cutting timber when not permitted or ignoring the one-child policy . It is also used to describe a lawless place far from the authorities.[8][9]
A variation on the proverb is also often heard: Shan Gao Huang-di Yuan, meaning the mountains are high and the emperor is far away.[10]
[edit] See also
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Chinese_proverbs
[edit] References
- ^ My China Connection
- ^ Samovar, Larry (2009). Communication Between Cultures. Cengage. p. 70. http://books.google.com/books?id=fxmSZD9gftkC&pg=PA70.
- ^ Fairbrother, Gregory (2003). Toward critical patriotism: student resistance to political education in Hong Kong and China. Hong Kong University Press. p. 3. http://books.google.com/books?id=GxXpPbnfspQC&pg=PA3.
- ^ Ringmar, Erik (2005). The mechanics of modernity in Europe and East Asia: the institutional origins of social change and stagnation. Psychology Press. p. 160. http://books.google.com/books?id=RMqzk3OjNscC&pg=PA160.
- ^ Zhao, Suisheng (2006). Debating political reform in China: rule of law vs. democratization. M.E. Sharpe. p. 24. http://books.google.com/books?id=d5XQ0bjGjwsC&pg=PA24.
- ^ Haft, Jeremy (2007). All the tea in China: how to buy, sell, and make money on the mainland. Penguin. p. 49. http://books.google.com/books?id=y2iJTt3W0fMC&pg=PA49.
- ^ My China Connection
- ^ http://dictionary.sensagent.com/tian+gao+huang-di+yuan/en-en/
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=8OT_Sbk0yekC&pg=PA175&lpg=PA175&dq=Tian+Gao+Huang-di+Yuan&source=bl&ots=naTo5R1fyN&sig=JGXvHCT3yVkm-5cgn3B_xW1nwuM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1sVXT6SuGbCw0QHxmrTEDw&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Tian%20Gao%20Huang-di%20Yuan&f=false
- ^ Chinese Proverbs
