They are all of the same bad sort; jackals from the same lair; birds of a feather (usually in a derogatory sense).
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Han Dynasty, Yang Dan, a descendant of esteemed families (his father was a prime minister and his mother Sima Qian's daughter), gained fame early in life. He was initially lauded for his integrity, having reformed corruption among court officials.
However, his swift rise to prominence made him arrogant. One day, upon hearing that a Xiongnu leader had been overthrown, Yang Dan openly commented on how foolish rulers, like those of the Qin Dynasty who brought about their own downfall, trusted villains and ignored loyal advice. He then declared, 'From ancient times to the present, such rulers are truly like raccoons from the same mound; there's absolutely no difference between them!' (古与今，如一丘之貂).
These critical remarks were perceived as an implicit criticism of the current emperor, leading to Yang Dan's dismissal. This incident gave rise to the idiom '一丘之貉' (yī qiū zhī hé), which metaphorically describes people of the same kind, specifically those who share undesirable or contemptible qualities, implying they are all equally bad and unworthy of respect.