To be utterly heartbroken and grief-stricken, as if one's own parents had just passed away; to be in extreme sorrow.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Warring States period, Meng Qiu, a man from the State of Lu, once asked his teacher Mencius a question. He inquired if it was contrary to ritual etiquette for Shun's father to still face north to him (as a subject to a ruler) and for Emperor Yao to also lead the feudal lords to pay homage to him, even after Shun had become the Son of Heaven.
Mencius replied that, in fact, Emperor Yao had abdicated the throne to Shun only after growing old. When Yao passed away, the common people grieved as if they had lost their own parents. Shun then led the people in mourning for three years and ceased all entertainment.