Public discussions and popular talk among people in the streets and alleys, referring to widespread public opinion or common gossip.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the ruling class lived in extreme luxury, seizing fertile land and private homes while exploiting the common people.
The scholar Zhang Heng wrote 'Xijing Fu' to subtly criticize these rulers. In his work, he recounted an earlier incident from the Western Han Dynasty: Gongsun He, then a prime minister, had a son who embezzled military funds.
To shield his son from punishment, Gongsun He controversially arrested the fugitive Zhu Anshi and forced him to take the blame. This incident caused widespread public discussion and sharp criticism among the ordinary people in the streets and alleys.