Existing in name only; titular; nominal; a mere figurehead.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
The idiom 'You Ming Wu Shi' originates from 'Guo Yu, Jin Yu Ba' (Discourses of the States, Discourses of Jin VIII). One day, Shu Xiang, a grandee from the Jin state, visited his old friend Han Xuanzi. Han Xuanzi was one of the six ministers of Jin at the time, holding a very high position.
However, upon seeing Shu Xiang, he sighed continuously, complaining about his poverty. Unexpectedly, Shu Xiang, hearing this, stood up and bowed, congratulating him.
Han Xuanzi asked, puzzled, 'I have the name of a minister, but none of the actual substance. I cannot compare with other grandees. I am distressed by this, so why do you congratulate me?' Shu Xiang solemnly replied, 'I congratulate you precisely because of your poverty! Poverty is not necessarily a bad thing. You only need to recall the experiences of Yi Wuzi's three generations to understand.'
Shu Xiang knew that Han Xuanzi was well aware of the different fates of Yi Wuzi's three generations, which is why he specifically brought it up. Finally, he added, 'Seeing you in such poverty, like Yi Wuzi, makes me think you possess his virtues, and that is why I offer my congratulations. Otherwise, I would only worry, and certainly not congratulate you.'
Han Xuanzi, upon hearing Shu Xiang's words, immediately dispelled his worries. He bowed to Shu Xiang and said, 'Thank you for your guidance. Otherwise, I would not even know that I was heading towards ruin.'