爱屋及乌 — “Love the house and its crows”

The idiom 'Love the house and its crows' originates from an anecdote during the founding of the Zhou Dynasty. Legend has it that King Zhou of Shang, the last ruler of the Yin-Shang dynasty, was a tyrannical and cruel monarch. Ji Chang, later known as King Wen of Zhou, opposed King Zhou and was imprisoned. After gaining his freedom, King Wen, with the help of his strategist Jiang Shang (Jiang Taigong), began to build up the power of Zhou, preparing to overthrow the Shang Dynasty. However, King Wen passed away before accomplishing this goal.

His son, Ji Fa, succeeded him as King Wu of Zhou. With Jiang Taigong as his military advisor, King Wu led his army to attack Chaoge, the Shang capital. King Zhou's forces were defeated, and he committed suicide, marking the end of the Shang Dynasty.

After conquering Chaoge, King Wu was faced with a dilemma: how to deal with the numerous officials, nobles, and soldiers of the former Shang Dynasty. He was worried about stabilizing the newly established Zhou Dynasty. He sought advice from Jiang Taigong. According to 'Shuo Yuan: Gui Fa' compiled by Liu Xiang during the Han Dynasty, King Wu asked Jiang Taigong, 'What should be done with their officers and people?'

Jiang Taigong replied, 'I have heard that if one loves a person, one extends that love even to the crows on their roof; if one hates a person, one even loathes their remaining retainers. What if we utterly destroy all our enemies, leaving none?' While Jiang Taigong's full suggestion was harsh, the first part of his response – 'love a person, love even the crows on their roof' – became the origin of the idiom '爱屋及乌', signifying that love for a person extends to everything associated with them.