乞骸骨

A metaphor for an old man who served his master for many years, which can be compared to a skeleton:

晏子對曰、前臣之治東阿也、屬託不行、貨賂不至、陂池之魚、以利貧民。當此之時、民無飢、君反以罪臣。今臣後之東阿也、屬託行、貨賂至、并重賦斂、倉庫少内、便事左右、陂池之魚、入于權宗。當此之時、飢者過半矣。君迺反迎而賀。臣愚不能復治東阿。願乞骸骨、避賢者之路。再拜便僻。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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晏子对曰、前臣之治东阿也、属托不行、货赂不至、陂池之鱼、以利贫民。当此之时、民无饥、君反以罪臣。今臣后之东阿也、属托行、货赂至、并重赋敛、仓库少内、便事左右、陂池之鱼、入于权宗。当此之时、饥者过半矣。君迺反迎而贺。臣愚不能复治东阿。愿乞骸骨、避贤者之路。再拜便僻。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Annals of Master Yan, c. 3^rd century BCE

Yànzǐ duì yuē, qián chén zhī zhì Dōng'ē yě, shǔtuō bù xíng, huòlù bù zhì, bēichí zhī yú, yǐ lì pínmín. Dāng cǐ zhī shí, mín wú jī, jūn fǎn yǐ zuì chén. Jīn chén hòu zhī Dōng'ē yě, shǔtuō xíng, huòlù zhì, bìng zhòng fùliǎn, cāngkù shào nèi, biànshì zuǒyòu, bēichí zhī yú, rù yú quánzōng. Dāng cǐ zhī shí, jī zhě guòbàn yǐ. Jūn nǎi fǎn yíng ér hè. Chényú bù néng fù zhì Dōng'ē. Yuàn qǐ háigǔ, bì xiánzhě zhī lù. Zàibài biàn pì.

Master Yan answered: "In Dong'e when I once ruled, there wasn't any collusion, no bribes offered, fishes in the ponds profited poor people. In that time, there weren't any starved people; your majesty rather penalized me. In Dong'e after my rule, there is collusion, some bribes offered, and heavy taxes, warehouses getting empty, public interests turn aside, fishes in the ponds are obtained by the nobles. In this time, more than half of the people are starved. Your majesty is rather welcoming and celebrating those things. I, stupid vassal can't rule Dong'e again. I wish to beg for (my) skeleton and avoid the path of the wise man." He bowed twice and then got away.

乞⫽骸骨 (verb-object) (intransitive)

1. (literary, figurative, historical, of a state minister) to resign, so as to be buried in one's hometown at death.

• 乞骸
• 致事
• 致政
• 致仕 (zhìshì)
• 休致 (xiūzhì)
• 退休 (tuìxiū)

• → Japanese: 骸骨を乞う (gaikotsu o kou) (calque)