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Heaven is high and the emperor is faraway
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Did you heard English version about the proverb of "Heaven is hig and the emperor is faraway" ?[谚语:天高皇帝远]
Now I use English to introduce the story:
During the late Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the aristocrats lived in debauchery and dissipation. As they squandered large amounts of public funds, the royal treasury was pushed to the point of being unable to make ends meet. Shifting the crisis onto the laboring people, the government concocted various pretexts to levy heavier taxes. Those who could not pay up were arrested and beaten up. Bribes to "purchase official positions" were commonplace. The rich and the powerful who bought their way into official positions were given to appropriating property and victimizing the people. In desperation the people had not any choice but to rise in rebellion. At the time the following folk rhyme was circulating among peasant rebels in east Zhejiang Province:
Heaven is high and the emperor is faraway, the people are few, yet officials abound.
Thrice each day we are beaten ! We've got to rebel -- it's now or never !
Later the proverb "heaven is high and the emperor is faraway" is used to describe the condition of unrestrained freedom enjoyed by those far away from the central authority and government control.
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Post comment Comment (3 replies)
- Reply kennyhe2002
- Would you like to help translating the "Bu Zhe Teng"?
- Reply kennyhe2002
- I still remember the slogan:
天高皇帝远，民少相公多。一天三遍打，不反待如何？！
