Xiao Zixian, nephew of Emperor Wu of the Southern Qi Dynasty, was the son of Prince Yuzhang Wenxian, Xiao Yi, the emperor's own brother.
Xiao Zixian was exceptionally bright from childhood, earning his father's special affection among many brothers. As he grew, he became known for his swift literary talent, composing essays with both insight and elegance as soon as the brush touched paper. His works often drew praise from renowned writers like Shen Yue, who remarked, "Your writing has both substance and style—truly a rare gift."
The Qi Dynasty lasted only 23 years before being replaced by the Liang Dynasty. Xiao Zixian and his fifteen brothers all served as officials in the Liang court.
Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, had long admired Xiao Zixian's brilliance and was captivated by his refined conversation and demeanor, often summoning him to the palace to discuss history and literature with great delight. A champion of Confucian classics, the emperor appointed Xiao Zixian as a National Academy Erudite, who then adopted the emperor's own work, *Classical Meanings*, as the academy's textbook. Xiao Zixian personally guided one teaching assistant to instruct a select group of ten students, nurturing the talent the empire urgently needed.
Xiao Zixian also undertook Emperor Wu of Liang's commission to critically examine various histories of the Later Han, producing the *Book of Later Han* in 100 volumes, and authored the *History of Qi* in 60 volumes. He later compiled the *Collected Works of Emperor Gaozu* and the *Record of the Northern Expedition during the Putong Era* (Putong being Emperor Wu's reign name). His extraordinary talent earned him Emperor Wu's praise: "Truly a man of genius."
Therefore, whenever Emperor Wu of Liang held an imperial banquet, he would always summon Xiao Zixian to sit beside him. After the feast began, the emperor would often personally approach Xiao Zixian, engaging him in warm conversation, showing his exceptional esteem.
Xiao Zixian, brimming with pride in his extraordinary talent, gradually grew arrogant and dismissive of others. When he served as Minister of Personnel, wielding the power to appoint and select officials, candidates of all ranks came to meet him. Some tried to ingratiate themselves or build connections, but Xiao Zixian ignored all their warm gestures and greetings, refusing to exchange a single word with them. He would merely flick his folding fan as if acknowledging their presence, his expression perpetually cold and aloof. This infuriated the candidates, who gnashed their teeth in secret, yet could do nothing to him.
In the third year of the Datong era, Xiao Zixian died of illness at just 49. When preparing his burial, his family requested a posthumous title. Emperor Wu of Liang personally wrote an edict: "He relied on his talent and looked down on others; his posthumous title should be 'Arrogant.'" This succinctly and aptly summed up Xiao Zixian's life.
In the idiom "relying on talent to look down on others," the character "wu" refers to other people. It means being arrogant and condescending due to one's own abilities.
Source: *Book of Liang*, "Biography of Xiao Zixian"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "恃才傲物" came to describe how being arrogant and condescending due to one's own abilities.