To be approachable, amiable, and without airs, making others feel comfortable and willing to engage. It can also describe language or writing that is simple and easy to understand.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
In the early Western Zhou Dynasty, Boqin, son of the Duke of Zhou, was enfeoffed in Lu, while Taigong Wang (Jiang Ziya) was enfeoffed in Qi. The Duke of Zhou remained regent at court, assisting King Cheng.
Three years later, Boqin returned to the court to report on state affairs to the Duke of Zhou, who asked, "Why did you come so late?" Boqin replied, "I have been reforming customs, which required considerable effort. For instance, the mourning period must be observed for three full years before it can be concluded."
However, Taigong, after arriving in Qi, reported on state affairs just five months later. The Duke of Zhou asked, "Why were you so quick?" Taigong explained, "I greatly simplified the etiquette between ruler and subject, making everything common and easy."
Taigong later heard about Boqin's report and sighed, saying, "In later generations, the State of Lu will surely be subservient to Qi. If governance is not simple and accessible, the common people will not be willing to draw near. If it is 'píngyì jìnmín' (simple and close to the people), then the common people will rally to it." Therefore, "平易近人" (píngyì jìnrén) originally referred to simple and accessible governance.
However, during the Tang Dynasty, to avoid the taboo of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin's given name 'Min' (民), all instances of '民' were changed to '人'. This idiom was no exception. For example, when Bai Juyi quoted this phrase in Volume 12 of his "Celin" (Policy Essays), it was changed to "平易近人". With this change, the meaning also shifted from referring to politics to describing one's attitude in dealing with people, and sometimes to a writing style that is simple and easy to understand.