In the 22nd year of Duke Zhao of Lu's reign, Prince Chao and his advisor Bin Qi enjoyed the favor of King Jing of Zhou. The king and Bin Qi both favored Prince Chao and planned to make him crown prince. Prince Chao proudly told Bo Fen, the son of Liu Xian Gong by a concubine, about his favored status. At that time, Bo Fen served the noble Shan Mu Gong. He deeply despised Bin Qi's character and sought an opportunity to kill him. He was also highly offended by Prince Chao's hints at becoming crown prince, believing that King Jing's plan violated ritual propriety and sensing that Prince Chao harbored rebellious intentions. Thus, Bo Fen also wished to eliminate Prince Chao, but lacked the chance.
One day, Prince Bin Qi went outside the city and noticed a rooster pecking out its own tail feathers. Puzzled, he asked his attendant, "Why is it doing that?" The attendant replied, "It fears being used as a sacrifice, so it's mutilating itself." In ancient times, whole animals were offered to ancestors, and a damaged bird would be deemed unfit. Inspired, Bin Qi rushed back to report to King Jing, saying, "It seems the rooster dreads being used by others! But humans are different—being used is indeed hard, yet what is there to fear in using oneself?" The king said nothing, but the words struck a chord.
In the fourth month of summer, King Jing of Zhou planned a hunting trip to the northern mountains, ordering all his high ministers to accompany him, with the secret intention of assassinating Shan Mugong and Liu Xiangong. However, the king suddenly suffered a heart attack and died at the residence of the Zhou official Rong Qishi.
After King Jing of Zhou died, the nobles installed Crown Prince Meng as the new ruler, who became known as King Dao.
A few days later, Liu Xian Gong also passed away. Since he had no legitimate heir, Shan Mu Gong appointed Liu Fen as his successor.
A few days later, Liu Fen seized the opportunity of an audience with the new emperor to launch a surprise attack on Bin Qi, killing him on the spot.
"The idiom 'A Rooster Cuts Off Its Tail' originally meant taking one's own life to avoid being killed. Later, it came to describe someone who, fearing slander and ridicule, willingly renders themselves useless or even self-destructive."
Source: *Zuo Zhuan*, "Duke Zhao's Twenty-Second Year"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "雄鸡断尾" came to describe how someone who, fearing slander and ridicule, willingly renders themselves useless or even self-destructive.