各得其所 — “Each gets its place/what is needed”

The idiom "各得其所" (gè dé qí suǒ) originates from the "Yi Jing (Book of Changes), Xicixia (Appended Remarks, Part II)", stating: "They trade and withdraw, each getting what they need." It describes a situation where every person or thing finds its appropriate place or receives what it needs, leading to general satisfaction.

During the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu's sister, Princess Longlü, had a son named Zhaoping Jun. The princess knew that her son, relying on his powerful connections, often engaged in misconduct and was bound to cause serious trouble eventually. Worried that no one would save him from a death penalty after her passing, she told Emperor Wu while gravely ill: "Your Majesty, I wish to offer one thousand catties of gold and ten million coins to preemptively redeem Zhaoping Jun's death sentence." This was an unprecedented request, but seeing her severe illness, Emperor Wu nodded in agreement to comfort her.

After Princess Longlü died, Zhaoping Jun, without anyone to restrain him, became increasingly arrogant. One day, after drinking, he committed murder and was arrested and imprisoned. Emperor Wu was deeply saddened, sighing: "My sister gave birth to this son late in life and entrusted him to me before she died. Now, to sentence him to death, I truly cannot bear it!" His ministers all said, "The princess already redeemed his death sentence. Your Majesty, please pardon him this once!" Emperor Wu shook his head and replied, "The laws were established by the former emperors and must be obeyed. If I break the law for the sake of my relatives, how can I maintain trust among the people?"

Finally, Emperor Wu hardened his heart and issued an edict to execute Zhaoping Jun. Although Emperor Wu was heartbroken after Zhaoping Jun's execution, the Grand Master Dongfang Shuo toasted the Emperor, saying: "Rewarding merits spares no enemies, and punishing crimes spares no relatives Your Majesty has achieved both these points. Thus, the people within the four seas will each get what they desire."