To keep a secret profoundly; to conceal something very deeply; to be extremely reticent about an important matter.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Zhuang of Lu was fond of his concubine Meng Ren and desired her son, Ban, to inherit the throne. His minister, Shuya, however, wished for Qingfu to become king, a suggestion Duke Zhuang rejected.
Later, Ji You assassinated Shuya and had Ban appointed as the ruler.
Qingfu then killed Ban and subsequently made Duke Kai king.
A year later, Qingfu murdered Duke Kai and seized the throne for himself.
Confucius, in compiling his Spring and Autumn Annals, did not record this particular sequence of historical events. People then remarked that he was '讳莫如深' (keeping the matter profoundly concealed).