Once upon a time in the Han dynasty, there was a notable man named Yang Dan, son of Chancellor Yang Chang and grandson of historian Sima Qian. As a youth, he became famous and reported a rebellion plot, earning noble rank. Yang Dan reformed bribery in the court but later fell out of favor.

He criticized past and present rulers for trusting villains and killing loyal ministers, saying:

“The ancients and the present are like ‘a group of raccoon dogs from the same hill’ (yī qiū zhī hé), no different from each other.”

Here, “hé” refers to a wild animal similar to a fox with yellowish fur. The idiom is used to describe people of the same bad kind, implying no difference among them, often in a derogatory or sarcastic tone.

Summary

  • Idiom: 一丘之貉
  • Pinyin: yī qiū zhī hé
  • Literal Translation: a group of raccoon dogs from the same hill
  • Extended Meaning: Used to describe people who are of the same bad kind with no difference among them; often used derogatorily to criticize or mock a group of wrongdoers.

Character Introduction

  • 杨惮 (Yáng Dàn)
    A Han dynasty official known for his honesty and reforms, later dismissed for criticizing corrupt rulers and officials.
  • 太仆长荣 (Cháng Róng)
    A trusted friend of Emperor Xuan of Han and rival to Yang Dan.