To show leniency or mercy, often by deliberately leaving a way out or giving someone a second chance, rather than enforcing strict rules or consequences; to give a broad margin.
Era:
Early Modern
Frequency:
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Story:
In the early years of the Shang Dynasty, King Tang went out and saw a man in the wilderness setting up nets on all four sides to catch animals.
The man prayed to heaven, saying, 'May all creatures from the four directions of the world enter my net.'
King Tang smiled and said, 'That's enough.' He then ordered three sides of the net to be removed, saying, 'Those who wish to go left, go left; those who wish to go right, go right; let only those who choose to enter, fall into the net.'
When the feudal lords heard about this, they praised King Tang for his great virtue, noting that he could attract everything naturally, without force.