To punish someone severely, often by execution, without having first educated or warned them about the rules or consequences; to punish without prior instruction or warning.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
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Story:
The idiom 'Bù Jiāo Ér Zhū' originates from a conversation between Confucius and his disciple, Zizhang. Zizhang once asked Confucius about the principles of good governance for a state. Confucius replied that a ruler should uphold 'five virtues' and eliminate 'four evils.'
Among these 'four evils,' the most significant was 'punishing people without first educating them or providing clear warnings,' which Confucius sternly categorized as 'cruelty' (虐). He explained that it is unjust to hold people accountable for breaking rules they were never taught.
The other three evils he mentioned were 'tyranny,' 'robbery,' and 'pettiness' (referring to a narrow-minded and ungenerous approach to governance). This emphasizes the Confucian belief in the importance of education and clear instruction before imposing penalties.