To depend on others, unable to be self-reliant; to live under someone else's roof or protection.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
In ancient times, during the Spring Festival, people would write names of gods on peach wood planks and hang them by their doors to ward off evil. These were called Taofu (peach talismans) and later evolved into Spring Couplets. Door gods were also pasted on doors for protection.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, people made human figures from mugwort (Ai Cao) and hung them on their main doors for purification.
One day, a Taofu looked up at an Ai Ren and asked, "What are you? How dare you live above me?" The Ai Ren bowed slightly and replied, "You are already half-buried in the earth (referring to the time from New Year's Day to the Dragon Boat Festival, about half a year). Do you still have the nerve to argue with me about superiority?"
The Taofu became angry and started quarreling with the Ai Ren. The Door God then intervened, saying, "Stop arguing! People like us all depend on others' households to live. Where do we find the time to quarrel over such trivial matters?"