To surpass one's predecessors or those who started earlier; to catch up and overtake, especially referring to newcomers or those who join later achieving greater success or prominence.
Era:
Ancient
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Story:
Ji An lived during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty. He was respected for his uprightness, integrity, and courage to speak the truth. He was unconstrained by minor details in his conduct and governance, focusing on practical results. Although his achievements were not outwardly spectacular, he managed his prefecture in an orderly manner. Consequently, the court transferred him from Governor of Donghai to Chief Commandant for Guest Rituals (主爵都尉), an official responsible for the appointment and dismissal of local officials.
One day, Emperor Wu declared his intention to implement benevolent Confucian policies for the benefit of the common people. Before the Emperor could finish, Ji An interjected, "Your Majesty's heart is filled with greed and desires, yet you pretend to practice benevolent governance. What's the point of such an effort?" His blunt remark left the Emperor speechless.
Emperor Wu's face instantly changed, and he adjourned the court. All the court officials held their breath for Ji An, fearing he had brought great misfortune upon himself. After returning to his palace, Emperor Wu remarked to his attendants that Ji An was perhaps too crude and straightforward. From then on, Ji An's official position never advanced.
When he was Chief Commandant for Guest Rituals, Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang were still obscure junior officials. Later, they rapidly ascended; Gongsun Hong became Prime Minister, and Zhang Tang became Imperial Censor, while Ji An remained in his original position. One day, Ji An complained to Emperor Wu, "Your Majesty uses your officials like stacking firewood: 'Latercomers come out on top' (后来者居上)!" Emperor Wu, of course, understood this as a grumble. He then turned to his subordinates and said, "Indeed, one must study! Listen to Ji An, he's becoming more and more unreasonable!"
This story is from "The Biographies of Ji An and Zheng Dang Shi" in *Records of the Grand Historian*. The idiom "后来居上" (hòu lái jū shàng) now typically means that those who start later can surpass their predecessors, which is quite different from Ji An's original intention of expressing his frustration over being overlooked while others were promoted.