ennoble wife and secure hereditary posts for descendants; feudal privilege
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to confer a noble title on the wife of a meritorious official and hereditary official posts on his descendants (imperial Chinese practice)
literaryDescribes the traditional feudal system of rewarding meritorious officials in imperial China. The phrase often carries historical or critical connotations when used in modern contexts to describe nepotism or seeking privilege for one's family.
Ancient soldiers fought bloody battles on the battlefield, often solely to ennoble their wives, secure hereditary posts for their children, and bring glory to their ancestors.
This feudal notion of seeking hereditary privilege for one's family has long been rejected by modern society.
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He studied diligently not for the sake of ennobling his wife and securing hereditary posts for his descendants, but with the people of the world in his heart.