







为法自弊 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to devise rules or policies that ultimately prove detrimental or harmful to oneself; to be hoist with one's own petard”. Literally, “to create laws that harm oneself”.
During the Warring States period, Duke Xiao of Qin appointed Shang Yang to implement a series of political and economic reforms in Qin. Prince Si, who would later become King Huiwen of Qin, violated the new laws and was punished by Shang Yang.
Qin gradually grew stronger and wealthier. Later, when Prince Si became King Huiwen, he harbored a grudge and sought to punish Shang Yang.
Shang Yang fled, but no one dared to offer him refuge because of the strict laws he himself had established. Ultimately, Shang Yang was killed by King Huiwen, a classic case of being hoist with his own petard, or creating laws that led to his own demise.

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Open the tool →为法自弊 (wéi fǎ zì bì) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to devise rules or policies that ultimately prove detrimental or harmful to oneself; to be hoist with one's own petard”.
为法自弊 is pronounced wéi fǎ zì bì in Mandarin Chinese.
Literally, 为法自弊 means “to create laws that harm oneself”. It is used to mean “to devise rules or policies that ultimately prove detrimental or harmful to oneself; to be hoist with one's own petard”.
为法自弊 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
作定自弊。