以古非今 Yǐ gǔ fēi jīn Using the past to criticize the present

Explanation

用古代的制度、事例来否定或批评现代的制度、措施。

Using ancient systems and examples to deny or criticize modern systems and measures.

Origin Story

秦始皇统一六国后，为了加强中央集权，焚书坑儒，禁止人们以古非今。然而，历史的车轮滚滚向前，任何试图扼杀思想的行为都注定要失败。焚书坑儒的暴行，最终也成了后世批判秦始皇暴政的铁证。故事中，秦始皇的举动正是“以古非今”的反面教材，体现了统治者的专制和残暴，也暗示了压制思想的最终失败。在那个时代，许多学者和文人用经典著作阐述治国理政之道，以古喻今，希望借鉴历史经验，改善民生。但秦始皇却视此为威胁，认为这些思想会动摇他的统治，于是下令焚烧书籍，坑杀儒生。然而，历史的教训告诉我们，任何试图掩盖真相的行为都是徒劳的。以古非今，只会使统治者更加孤陋寡闻，最终走向灭亡。

qín shǐ huáng tǒngyī liù guó hòu, wèile jiāqiáng zhōngyāng jí quán, fén shū kēng rú, jìnzhǐ rénmen yǐ gǔ fēi jīn. rán'ér, lìshǐ de chē lún gǔngǔn xiàng qián, rènhé shìtú èshā sīxiǎng de xíngwéi dōu zhùdìng yào shībài. fén shū kēng rú de bàoxíng, zuìzhōng yě chéngle hòushì pīpàn qín shǐ huáng bàozhèng de tiězhèng. gùshì zhōng, qín shǐ huáng de jǔdòng zhèngshì “yǐ gǔ fēi jīn” de fǎnmiàn jiàocái, tǐxiàn le tǒngzhì zhě de zhuānzhì hé cánbào, yě ànshì le yāzhì sīxiǎng de zuìzhōng shībài. zài nàge shí dài, xǔduō xuézhě hé wénrén yòng jīngdiǎn zhùzuò chǎnshù zhìguó lǐzhèng zhī dào, yǐ gǔ yù jīn, xīwàng jièjiàn lìshǐ jīngyàn, gǎishàn mínshēng. dàn qín shǐ huáng què shì cǐ wèi wēixié, rènwéi zhèxiē sīxiǎng huì dòngyáo tā de tǒngzhì, yúshì xiàlìng fénshāo shūjí, kēng shā rúshēng. rán'ér, lìshǐ de jiàoxùn gàosù wǒmen, rènhé shìtú yǎngài zhēnxiàng de xíngwéi dōu shì túláo de. yǐ gǔ fēi jīn, zhǐ huì shǐ tǒngzhì zhě gèngjiā gūlòu guǎwén, zuìzhōng zǒuxiàng mièwáng.

After Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, in order to strengthen the central government, he burned books and buried Confucian scholars alive, prohibiting people from using the past to criticize the present. However, the wheel of history rolled forward, and any attempt to stifle thought was doomed to fail. The atrocities of burning books and burying scholars alive eventually became ironclad evidence for criticizing Qin Shi Huang's tyranny in later generations. In the story, Qin Shi Huang's actions are a negative example of "using the past to criticize the present", reflecting the ruler's despotism and brutality, and also implying the ultimate failure of suppressing thought. In that era, many scholars and literati used classic works to expound on the principles of governing the country, using the past to illuminate the present, hoping to learn from historical experience and improve people's livelihood. But Qin Shi Huang saw this as a threat, believing that these ideas would undermine his rule, so he ordered the burning of books and the killing of Confucian scholars. However, the lessons of history tell us that any attempt to cover up the truth is futile. Using the past to criticize the present will only make the rulers more ignorant and eventually lead to their demise.

Usage

主要用于批评那些墨守成规，不思进取的人。

zhǔyào yòng yú pīpíng nàxiē mòshǒuchéngguī, bù sī jìnqǔ de rén.

Mainly used to criticize those who stick to the rules and do not seek progress.

Examples

• 某些人总是以古非今，试图用过去的经验来否定现在的做法。

  mǒuxiē rén zǒngshì yǐ gǔ fēi jīn, shìtú yòng guòqù de jīngyàn lái fǒudìng xiànzài de zuòfǎ.

  Some people always use the past to criticize the present, trying to use past experiences to deny current practices.

• 他喜欢以古非今，批评现代社会的一些现象。

  tā xǐhuan yǐ gǔ fēi jīn, pīpíng xiàndài shèhuì de yīxiē xiànxiàng

  He likes to criticize some phenomena of modern society by comparing them to the past.

Related Idioms

• 以古喻今

• 古为今用

Opposite Idioms

• 因时制宜

• 与时俱进