倒行逆施 (Dào xíng nì shī)

Basic Info

• Chinese Idiom: 倒行逆施 (Dào xíng nì shī)
• Pinyin: dào xíng nì shī
• Literal meaning: “To walk backwards and act in reverse / against the natural order.”
  (倒 = backwards / inverted; 行 = to walk / act; 逆 = contrary / against; 施 = to carry out / apply)

Figurative Definition

It means to act contrary to common sense, established norms, or the natural order of things. In modern usage, it usually refers to actions that go against the tide of history and the will of the people – perverse, retrograde, or reactionary behavior. It is strongly negative and often used in political or moral criticism.

Cultural & Historical Origin

The idiom comes from Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian (《史记·伍子胥列传》).

During the Spring and Autumn period, Wu Zixu (伍子胥) of the state of Chu sought revenge for his father and brother, who had been unjustly killed by King Ping of Chu. Wu Zixu fled to the state of Wu, led a Wu army to attack Chu, dug up King Ping’s tomb, and flogged the corpse three hundred times.

His friend Shen Baoxu (申包胥) reproached him for this extreme act. Wu Zixu replied:

“吾日莫途远，吾故倒行而逆施之。”
(“The sun is setting and my road is long; that is why I act backwards and against the normal way.”)

Originally, the phrase expressed a kind of desperate urgency – because time was short and the journey long, he had to act contrary to ordinary propriety. Later, the idiom shifted to its modern meaning: perverse, unreasonable, or reactionary conduct.

Key Lesson

Not everything justified by a goal is right. Wu Zixu’s story shows how grief, anger, and desperation can drive people to act against basic norms. The idiom warns us that going against reason and the common good may achieve a purpose, but it carries a heavy moral cost. In public life, actions that ignore the times and the people’s will rarely end well.

Cultural Note

In modern Chinese, “倒行逆施” is a strong political and moral condemnation. It is often used to criticize:

• Regimes or leaders who resist reform and suppress the people.
• Policies that run counter to historical progress.
• Individuals whose behavior is perverse and unreasonable.

It is close in meaning to “逆历史潮流而动” (to move against the tide of history) and is the opposite of “顺应民心” (to comply with the will of the people).

Similar English Expressions

• To go against the tide – To act contrary to the general trend.
• To run counter to reason / the times – To be contrary to what is sensible or current.
• To put the clock back – To try to reverse progress.
• Reactionary – Opposing political or social progress.
• Retrograde – Moving backwards; contrary to progress.
• To fly in the face of reason – To act in a way that is obviously unreasonable.
• To swim against the current – Often neutral or positive, so use with care.
• Perverse / perverse conduct – Deliberately contrary and unreasonable.

The closest natural equivalents are “to go against the tide,” “to put the clock back,” or “reactionary.”