摩頂放踵

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Chinese

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rub
go against; most; peak
go against; most; peak; top; to replace; to substitute; a measure word (use with "hat")
 
to release; to free; to let go
to release; to free; to let go; to put; to place; to let out
 
arrive; follow; heel
trad. (摩頂放踵)
simp. (摩顶放踵)
Literally: “to have hair rubbed away and heel grazed (because of walking to everywhere to help people)”.

Etymology

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From Mencius's comment about Yangism and Mohism:

孟子:「楊子天下墨子兼愛摩頂放踵天下。子莫。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
孟子:「杨子天下墨子兼爱摩顶放踵天下。子莫。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE
Mèngzǐ yuē: “Yángzǐ qǔ wèi wǒ, bá yī máo ér lì tiānxià, bù wèi yě. Mòzǐ jiān'ài, mó dǐng fàng zhǒng lì tiānxià, wèi zhī. Zǐmò zhí zhōng, zhí zhōng wèi jìn zhī, zhí zhōng wú quán, yóu zhí yī yě. Suǒ è zhí yī zhě, wèi qí zéi dào yě, jǔ yī ér fèi bǎi yě.” [Pinyin]
Mencius said, 'The principle of the philosopher Yang was "Each one for himself." Though he might have benefited the whole kingdom by plucking out a single hair, he would not have done it. The philosopher Mo loves all equally. If by rubbing smooth his whole body from the crown to the heel, he could have benefited the kingdom, he would have done it. Zi Mo holds a medium between these. By holding that medium, he is nearer the right. But by holding it without leaving room for the exigency of circumstances, it becomes like their holding their one point. The reason why I hate that holding to one point is the injury it does to the way of right principle. It takes up one point and disregards a hundred others.'

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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摩頂放踵

  1. to dedicate oneself completely to the welfare of mankind