Dou Ying, Marquis of Weiqi, was a cousin of Empress Dowager Dou during the Western Han Dynasty. Under Emperor Wen, he served as the prime minister to the Prince of Wu, Liu Bi, but later resigned due to illness. When Emperor Jing took the throne, Dou Ying was appointed as the imperial steward, a high-ranking palace official.
Once, Emperor Jing of Han's younger brother, Prince Xiao of Liang, Liu Wu, traveled from his fiefdom to the capital to visit his brother and mother. Dowager Empress Dou, who had always doted on her youngest son, was overjoyed. That day, Emperor Jing hosted a banquet for his brother, and their cousin Dou Ying was also invited. During the feast, after a few too many drinks, Emperor Jing casually joked, "When I die, I'll pass the throne to Prince Xiao."
Empress Dowager Dou beamed with delight upon hearing this. Dou Ying raised his wine cup, approached Emperor Jing, and said, "Your Majesty, this realm was won by Emperor Gaozu. According to the rules, the throne can only pass from father to son. How can you casually speak of passing it to Prince Liang?"
Empress Dowager Dou was deeply displeased by this. From then on, she harbored resentment toward Dou Ying. As for Dou Ying, he found the position of Chamberlain too insignificant, so he feigned illness, resigned from his post, and returned home.
Two years later, Wu King Liu Bi and Chu King Liu Wu raised a rebellion. Emperor Jing summoned Dou Ying to court, ordering him to lead troops to suppress it. Dou Ying declined, citing poor health and inability to serve. Knowing the reason for Dou Ying's refusal, Emperor Jing and Empress Dowager Dou felt deeply ashamed. Emperor Jing said to Dou Ying:
"Now the nation is in a critical state, how can you refuse?"
Emperor Jing of Han appointed Dou Ying as Grand General
In the fourth year of Emperor Jing's reign, Dou Ying was appointed as the crown prince's tutor. Soon after, the emperor deposed the prince. Dou Ying repeatedly admonished Emperor Jing, but the emperor refused to listen, so Dou Ying feigned illness and stopped attending court. Later, following the advice of a man from Liang named Gao Sui, who warned that such behavior would invite disaster, Dou Ying reluctantly returned to court.
Not long after, Chancellor Liu She was dismissed for some reason, and Empress Dowager Dou repeatedly urged Emperor Jing to promote Dou Ying to chancellor. The emperor replied, "Mother, I have my reasons for not appointing Dou Ying. He is a man who is always self-satisfied and easily pleased with himself, yet he cannot make firm decisions when handling affairs—he simply cannot bear the heavy responsibility of chancellor!"
Thus, Emperor Jing of Han did not appoint Dou Ying as his prime minister, instead choosing Wei Wan, the Marquis of Jianling, for the role.
Later, the idiom "complacent self-satisfaction" came to describe someone who is pleased and proud, thinking themselves excellent or remarkable.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of Weiqi and Wu'an Marquises"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "沾沾自喜" came to describe how someone is pleased and proud, thinking themselves excellent or remarkable.