If those in positions of authority set a bad example or act improperly, their subordinates or those below them will follow suit and behave similarly. It implies that bad behavior at the top corrupts those below.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Song Dynasty, Chenzhou experienced a series of natural disasters. The imperial court dispatched corrupt officials Liu Dezong and Yang Jinwu to open granaries and sell grain.
However, they took advantage of their positions for personal gain, inflating grain prices, mixing sand into the grain, and giving insufficient quantities.
The common people were extremely indignant about their behavior but could do nothing but sigh, 'If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beams will also be crooked' (上梁不正下梁歪).