鸡犬升天　(jī quǎn shēng tiān)

Relative Power

Nepotism, or showing undue favoritism to one’s relatives and friends, is perhaps a universal social phenomenon. And the Chinese idiom Ji Quan Sheng Tian or “chickens and dogs also ascending to heaven” must be one of the most vivid expressions describing this practice.

The Chinese saying derives from a story about Liu An, living in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD).

Liu was a devoted follower of Taoism who wished to live forever. In order to obtain immortality pills, he gathered together a large number of Taoist alchemists.

One day, eight white-haired old men came to see Liu, claiming they were the best alchemists of the era. At first, Liu did not believe them.

But when the eight visitors instantly changed into young boys, he was convinced of their magic powers. Overawed by what he saw, Liu then treated the eight Taoists as distinguished guests. He asked them to make pills that would give him immortality.

A few weeks later, the alchemists produced the pills and Liu decided to hold a grand ceremony to celebrate their achievement.

He announced he would take two longevity pills at the gala event. Just then, a messenger rushed in and reported that Liu’s residence was being stormed by royal troops who were sent to arrest him on charges of treason.

Liu panicked, but the alchemists persuaded him to take a pill and leave the hall immediately. After swallowing just one pill, Liu flew into the sky, accompanied by the alchemists. In the confusion, the remaining pills dropped to the ground and were eaten by the chickens and dogs wandering around.

In a few minutes, people saw the chickens and dogs ascending to the heavens as well and finally vanishing into thin air. This story spawned a popular saying which translates to the effect that “when a man attains the Tao (enlightenment and immortality), even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.”

Here the chickens and dogs mean mere dependents of someone who has just been promoted to a higher position. Later, the saying was shortened to a four-character idiom Ji Quan Sheng Tian, which now is often cited to describe people being promoted to higher positions simply because one of their kin or friends has recently become powerful or has obtained significant clout.