Ma Yuan, courtesy name Wenyuan, a native of Maoling in present-day Shaanxi, lived during the early Eastern Han Dynasty. When Liu Xiu became Emperor Guangwu, the realm was far from unified, with local warlords commanding their own armies and ruling independently.
Among the regional warlords, Gongsun Shu was the most powerful, having declared himself emperor in Chengdu. To assess the situation and discuss how to maintain long-term control over his own territory, the hegemon of Longxi, Wei Xiao, sent his general Ma Yuan to Gongsun Shu's court.
Ma Yuan, a highly valued general under Wei Xiao, embarked on his mission with great confidence. Since Gongsun Shu was his fellow townsman and an old acquaintance, Ma Yuan expected a warm welcome and a chance to reminisce. However, to his surprise, when Gongsun Shu learned of Ma Yuan's visit, he assumed the imperial posture—seated high in the hall with guards lining the steps—demanding that Ma Yuan pay him the courtesies due an emperor. After exchanging only a few words, Gongsun Shu withdrew to the palace and had Ma Yuan escorted back to his guesthouse. Later, Gongsun Shu, in the emperor's name, offered Ma Yuan an official post and bestowed upon him imperial gifts of court robes.
Ma Yuan was naturally displeased. He said to his subordinates, "The empire is still being contested among warlords, and no one knows who will win or lose. Gongsun Shu puts on such grand displays and pretends to be powerful—can a talented person stay here to build achievements with him?"
Ma Yuan returned to Wei Xiao and said, "Gongsun Shu is like a frog at the bottom of a well—he cannot see the vastness of the world and arrogantly thinks too highly of himself. We should go east to Luoyang and seek our fortunes under Emperor Guangwu."
Later, Ma Yuan pledged allegiance to Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, and served as a general under his command, dedicating himself fully to helping Liu Xiu unify the empire. In the end, Gongsun Shu was defeated by Liu Xiu.
Later, the idiom "Ludicrous Self-Importance" came to describe someone who arrogantly exaggerates their own worth, thinking themselves extraordinary while looking down on others.
Source: *Book of the Later Han*, "Biography of Ma Yuan"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "妄自尊大" came to describe how someone arrogantly exaggerates their own worth, thinking themselves extraordinary while looking down on others.