have no progeny

have no progeny

Ruo'ao is a Chinese idiom. Its pinyin is Ru ò á Ogu ǐ n ě I, which means that there is no descendant and no sacrifice. From Zuo Zhuan, the fourth year of Xuangong.

The origin of Idioms

In the fourth year of Xuangong in Zuozhuan: "the ghost of ruo'ao family, is it not discouraged?"

Idiom story

During the spring and Autumn period, both Ziwen and Ziliang brothers of ruo'ao family in Chu state were officials. Sima Ziliang gave birth to a very fierce son, dou Yuejiao, which made Yin Ziwen dislike the child and said that he had the ambition of being a wolf and would destroy the whole family. Later, dou Yuejiao became Sima. He killed his cousin Ziyang to succeed Ling Yin. He secretly expanded his army and rebelled. He was defeated by the king of Chu and destroyed the whole ruo'ao clan.

Idiom usage

The old man still believes in karma. He thinks that if too many people do evil, they will eventually be discouraged.