To prefer an honorable death or principled stand over a shameful or compromised survival; to choose dignity and integrity even if it means destruction.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
In 550 AD, Emperor Xiaojing of the Eastern Wei dynasty was compelled to abdicate his throne to his chancellor, Gao Yang, and was later poisoned to death.
Gao Yang further consolidated his power by brutally eliminating the emperor's sons and all immediate relatives to sever all ties to the former imperial line. He then threatened to execute even the emperor's distant relatives.
Among them, a man named Yuan Jinghao bravely declared, "A true man would rather be shattered jade than a whole tile." He adamantly refused to change his surname to Gao, symbolizing his defiance against the new ruler and his commitment to his lineage and principles.
However, Yuan Jinghao's cousin, Yuan Jing'an, betrayed him by reporting his defiant words to Gao Yang. As a result, Gao Yang had Yuan Jinghao executed, proving that Jinghao lived up to his declaration by choosing an honorable death over a life of submission.