During the Spring and Autumn period, the magistrate of Taoyi in the Song State, named Dazi, served for three years without doing much for the people but tripling his family's wealth. His wife, growing anxious, repeatedly advised him, "Stop being so greedy for wealth," but Dazi paid no heed.
After his three-year term ended, Dazi loaded the wealth he had extorted from the people onto carts and returned home. His relatives, seeing his newfound fortune, flocked to congratulate him. Even Dazi's mother was overjoyed that her son had amassed such riches as an official. Only Dazi's wife remained gloomy, clutching their child as she slipped into her room to weep in secret. When his mother scolded her, saying, "You unfilial woman! Your husband has struck it rich—you should be celebrating! Why the long face? Do you want to bring him bad luck?"
As his wife wept, she replied, "Dazi served as a grand master for three years, amassing such wealth—this is not fortune, but disaster! In the past, when Ziwen governed Chu, he accumulated countless riches for the state yet remained poor at home; he earned the king's respect and the people's love, blessing his descendants and leaving a lasting name. Consider the black leopard of Nanshan—when fog or rain comes, it stays hidden for seven days without descending to hunt. Why? To let its fur grow glossy and patterned, protecting itself from harm. But now, Dazi has been grand master of Taoyi for three years, extorting vast ill-gotten gains while the people seethe with resentment. Once this reaches the ruler's ears, he will be ruined! How can I not feel heartbroken?"
Upon hearing this, the son's mother flew into a rage and said, "You wicked woman, spouting nonsense and cursing my husband! You infuriate me! I no longer acknowledge you as my daughter-in-law. Get out!"
Hearing this, the wife silently packed her belongings, picked up their son, and quietly left.
Soon, someone reported Dazi's crimes to the King of Song. Enraged, the king executed Dazi. Only then did Dazi's mother, filled with regret, bring his wife and son back home.
Later, the idiom "Hidden Leopard of the Southern Mountain" came to describe retreating to avoid harm or cultivating oneself and honing skills while awaiting a chance to shine; "Southern Mountain Leopard" refers to an extraordinary person.
Source: *Biographies of Exemplary Women*, Chapter "The Wife of Tao Dazi"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "南山隐豹" came to describe retreating to avoid harm or cultivating oneself and honing skills while awaiting a chance to shine; "Southern Mountain Leopard" refers to an extraordinary person.