To refuse to serve a new dynasty or regime, especially when one remains loyal to the former one, even at the cost of one's life or livelihood; to remain steadfastly loyal and refuse to compromise principles.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
In the late Shang Dynasty, Bo Yi, the eldest son of Lord Guzhu, resolutely refused to inherit the throne after his father's death.
Later, when the Shang Dynasty fell and King Wu of Zhou established the Zhou Dynasty, he was unwilling to serve as an official and felt deeply shamed.
Consequently, he and his younger brother Shu Qi decided they would no longer eat the grains of the Zhou Dynasty. The two brothers secluded themselves on Shouyang Mountain, subsisting solely on wild fruits and vegetables gathered from the mountain.