During the final years of the Shang Dynasty, King Zhou of Shang abandoned state affairs, indulging day and night in wine and women while squandering resources without restraint. He heeded slanderous rumors and instituted brutal tortures to execute any minister who dared to offer honest counsel. The king's tyranny and cruelty sparked opposition from the feudal lords and resentment among the people. The Earl of the West, Ji Chang—later known as King Wen—was the first to raise the banner of rebellion against Zhou, igniting the war that would ultimately overthrow the Shang ruler's reign.
After King Wen of Zhou died, his son Ji Fa (King Wu of Zhou) ascended the throne. After years of war, the Zhou army had repeatedly defeated and worn down King Zhou's forces. Seeing the decisive moment had arrived, King Wu led his punitive army toward the Shang capital, Zhaoge. After crossing the Yellow River, he held a rally on the northern bank, delivering a solemn oath. King Wu first listed King Zhou's crimes, then analyzed the situation, declaring, "Though Zhou has countless followers, they are divided in heart and virtue. I have ten capable ministers, united in heart and virtue—with this single mind and single virtue, we will surely achieve our goal."
This means: "Although King Zhou has countless soldiers and generals, they are all mediocre and incompetent, lacking a common goal or unified purpose. We may have only ten ministers, but each is a master of strategy and warfare, united in thought and purpose. As long as our entire army stands together, this campaign against Zhou is destined for victory."
King Wen of Zhou's words powerfully inspired the morale of all the soldiers, strengthening their unwavering belief in victory.
As the campaign unfolded exactly as King Wu of Zhou had predicted, the allied forces swept forward like a splitting bamboo, breaking through every defense until they reached the capital city of Zhaoge. During the assault, King Zhou's own troops turned their weapons around and led the Zhou army into the city. Seeing that defeat was inevitable, King Zhou fled to the Deer Terrace, set it ablaze, and perished in the flames. Thus ended the Shang dynasty's rule.
From this story, people derived the idioms "With One Heart and One Virtue" and "One Mind, One Virtue." Opposite to "Divided Hearts and Virtues," they describe how people in work and battle should share common ideals and unified goals.
The idiom "divided in heart and virtue" describes people whose minds are not aligned and whose actions are not unified.
Source: *Book of Documents*, Chapter "Great Declaration"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "离心离德" came to describe people whose minds are not aligned and whose actions are not unified.