Chinese Wisdom Stories · Volume 1 · Story guide

冯谖买义Feng Xuan Buys Righteousness

féng xuān mǎi yì

HSK4+典故

Feng Xuan is sent to Xue to collect debts for Lord Mengchang. Instead of bringing back money, he burns the debt records and buys something else: the people's loyalty.

Where this story comes from

《战国策·齐策四》

Stratagems of the Warring States, Qi 4

The story

孟尝君派门客冯谖去薛地收债。冯谖到了薛地,把欠债的人召集起来,核对完借据后,当着大家的面把借据烧了,说这是孟尝君赏给你们的。薛地百姓非常感激。冯谖回去告诉孟尝君:我为您买回了‘义’。孟尝君当时不理解。后来孟尝君失去相位,回到薛地,百姓在路边迎接他,他才明白冯谖买的是人心。

What the idiom means

冯谖买义指用眼前的利益换取人心和长远信任;比喻做有远见的事,不能只盯着短期得失。

Feng Xuan buys righteousness — giving up short-term profit to earn people's trust and long-term loyalty.

How to use it

好的管理者不能只算眼前的账,冯谖买义讲的就是长远的选择。

hǎo de guǎn lǐ zhě bù néng zhǐ suàn yǎn qián de zhàng , féng xuān mǎi yì jiǎng de jiù shì cháng yuǎn de xuǎn zé 。

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Part of the Chinese Wisdom Stories series