Chinese proverb: 只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈

 

只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈

只：only

許 = 允許 ：allow

州官： governor
放火：to set fire to something
不：not

許 = 允許 ：allow
百姓：citizens
點燈：to light a candle/lamp

Ancient China had a unique cultural practice known as: 避諱(Naming taboo)。Out of respect, people avoided speaking or writing the names of their monarchs or revered elders.  

The methods of 避諱 included: 

• 缺筆(Omitting a stroke in the character, usually the final stroke.)
• 缺字(Leaving the character as a blank.)
• 換字(Changing the character to another, usually a synonym or one that sounded similar to the character being avoided.)
• 改音(Changing the character's pronunciation.)

Now that we know what 避諱 means, let's look at the proverb.

This proverb means that a person with power can do whatever they want, but forbid those under their rule from doing the same.

In 宋 dynasty (960–1279), there was a governor named 田登. Believing himself to be a revered ruler, he demanded that everyone in his prefecture observe a naming taboo related to his name. This meant people were forbidden from using any character that sounded like "登" . Violators of this order would be punished with flogging.

元宵節(Lantern Festival) has a custom called "點燈"(lighting lanterns). On this evening, various lanterns are hung high on buildings throughout the street, and people stroll around carrying beautiful lanterns. Since it's a state-wide event, the government, as per tradition, intended to announce a three-day lantern lighting event. However, because they couldn't use the character for "燈" (same pronunciation as 登) due to the 避諱, the announcement was changed to: "本州依例放火三日。" This proclamation, in the eyes of the public, became: "The state will, as per custom, set fires for three days."

All the citizens who saw this announcement ridiculed the governor, exclaiming, "Look! The governor only allows themselves to set a fire in the state but doesn't allow ordinary citizens to light a candle!"

Thus, this idiom later came to signify the disparity between those at the top, who have free rein, and those beneath them, who are bound by various constraints.

We  have similar expressions like:

雙重標準 = 雙標 Double Standards

Most of the time, you'll see this term shortened to "雙標" 

This term refers directly to a situation in which two different sets of principles or standards are applied to similar situations. Although it is not an idiom, it perfectly describes the underlying concept.

How To Use

• 在疫情期間，英國前首相下令不准聚會卻在官邸開宴會，真的是標準的只許州官放火，不須百姓點燈。
  During the pandemic, the former British prime minister banned gatherings yet held parties at his official residence. It was a classic case of "one rule for them, another for us."

• CEO拿到獎金，一般員工卻減薪，根本雙標嘛！
  The CEO gets a bonus while regular employees face pay cuts? That's double standards!