To promote what is beneficial and eliminate what is harmful; to foster advantages and eradicate abuses; to initiate beneficial undertakings and abolish malpractices. It describes the process of reforming and improving by encouraging positive aspects and removing negative ones.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the reign of Emperor Shenzong in the Northern Song Dynasty, Wang Anshi served as a privy councilor.
He formulated new policies such as the Equalization of Transport Law and the Green Shoots Law to alleviate the burden on farmers and increase national revenue. The Farmland and Water Conservancy Law promoted water conservancy projects nationwide. The Baojia Law and the Horse-raising Law were introduced to strengthen national defense.
Sima Guang criticized these reforms as "creating trouble and disturbing the people." Wang Anshi, however, argued that implementing the new laws was precisely "to promote benefits and eliminate abuses."