








改步改玉 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to adapt established customs”. Rituals, or procedures in response to a significant change in status, circumstances, or conditions. Literally, “Change steps, change jade”.
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the sixth month of the fifth year of Duke Ding of Lu's reign, Ji Pingzi died on his way home after inspecting the eastern fields. His household steward, Yang Hu, prepared Ji Pingzi's body for burial with a ceremonial jade called Yu Fan.
Zhong Lianghuai disagreed, believing it was time to 'gai bu gai yu' (change steps, change jade). He argued that since Duke Zhao had passed and Duke Ding was now on the throne, the established rituals and regulations should also be changed to reflect the new era.

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Open the tool →改步改玉 (gǎi bù gǎi yù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to adapt established customs”.
改步改玉 is pronounced gǎi bù gǎi yù in Mandarin Chinese.
Literally, 改步改玉 means “Change steps, change jade”. It is used to mean “to adapt established customs”.
改步改玉 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
步:古代祭祀时祭者与尸相距的步数,以地位排列。改变步数,改换玉饰。指死者身份改变,安葬礼数也应变更。