Bian Que, a legendary physician of the Warring States period, was born Qin Yueren in present-day Hebei Province. Renowned for his mastery of all medical arts, he traveled across the land healing countless patients, earning the revered title "Bian Que" after the mythical divine doctor.
Once, Bian Que went to see Duke Huan of Cai. After observing him for a moment, he noticed the Duke's complexion was off and concluded he was ill, so he said, "Your Majesty, you are sick, but the illness is still on the surface of your skin. If you don't treat it quickly, it will worsen." Duke Huan of Cai laughed and said, "What illness could I possibly have!"
After Bian Que left, Duke Huan of Cai said to his attendants, "This doctor wants to cure people who aren't sick to show off his medical skill."
Ten days later, Bian Que visited Duke Huan of Cai again and said, "Your Majesty, your illness has now entered the muscles and blood vessels. If left untreated, it will only worsen." Duke Huan, convinced he was not ill, completely ignored Bian Que.
After another ten days, Bian Que saw Duke Huan of Cai again and said in alarm, "Your Majesty, your illness has now entered the stomach and intestines. If you still refuse treatment, it will be too late." The Duke was very displeased and continued to ignore him.
Ten days later, Bian Que took one look at Duke Huan of Cai, turned around, and fled without a word. Puzzled, the Duke sent a messenger to ask Bian Que why. Bian Que replied, "When the illness is in the skin, it can be cured with hot compresses; when it enters the flesh, acupuncture still works; when it reaches the stomach, herbal medicine can help. But now the disease has burrowed into the marrow—there is nothing more I can do." Five days after that, the Duke fell ill and sent for Bian Que, but the physician had already fled to the state of Qin. Soon after, Duke Huan died. This story reminds us that ignoring early warnings can lead to irreversible consequences.
Bian Que told the messenger, "If the illness is on the skin, a dose of herbal soup and a hot compress can dispel the cold and stop the pain. If it's in the muscles, acupuncture can invigorate the blood and remove stasis. If it's in the stomach and intestines, a cooling medicine can clear the heat and aid digestion. But if the disease has penetrated deep into the marrow, there is no cure left. Now the Duke of Huan's illness has reached his marrow, so I have nothing more to say."
Ten days later, Duke Huan was wracked with pain throughout his body. He urgently sent for Bian Que, but the physician had already fled to the State of Qin.
Within just a few days, Duke Huan of Cai succumbed to his illness and passed away.
Based on this story, people later derived the idiom "hiding illness for fear of treatment," meaning to conceal one's mistakes or shortcomings for fear of criticism.
Source: *Han Feizi*, Chapter "Yu Lao"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "讳疾忌医" came to describe how to conceal one's mistakes or shortcomings for fear of criticism.