Idiom Explanation:
Both parties don’t know each other well, and even if they have been dating for a lifetime and their hair is gray, they still act as if they just met each other, describing the lack of a deep friendship.
Pronunciation:
白头如新
bái tóu rú xīn
Origin:
汉朝·邹阳《狱中上书自明》：“语曰：白头如新，倾盖如故，何则？”
Story:
Zou Yang, a native of Qi at the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, initially served under King Liu Pi of Wu and was known for his literary skills. When the king of Wu plotted to rebel, Zou Yang advised him but did not listen to him, so he joined Liu Wu, the king of Liang Xiao, instead.
He was a very good man, but he was generous and not agreeable, so he was jealous of Yang Sheng and Gong Sun Gu. They spoke ill of Zou Yang in front of King Xiao of Liang. The king of Liang Xiao listened to the slander and angrily handed over Zou Yang to the officials in charge of the law for trial and conviction and prepared to kill Zou Yang. Zou Yang was very angry and worried about the “trumped up” charges after his death, so he wrote to King Xiao from prison, citing facts to show that “treating people with sincerity will not be suspected is purely an empty phrase.”
In the letter, he wrote, “In the past, when Jing Ke admired Yan Dan’s righteousness and went to assassinate the King of Qin, despite the sign of a white rainbow in the sky, Prince Dan still feared that Jing Ke would not be able to do it. Isn’t it sad that their sincerity, which was so touching that it showed signs, was not understood by the two lords, Yan Dan and Zhaoge? Now I am doing my best to be loyal and do my best to make my plan, and I hope that the king will adopt it. The people around you do not understand the situation and finally hand me over to the officials for interrogation, and I am misunderstood by the world, even if Jing Ke and Mr. Wei are brought back to life, while Yan Dan and King Zhaoge of Qin will not wake up. I hope that the Great King will carefully examine this situation.”
“Bian He offered the precious jade to the king of Chu, but the king of Chu insisted that he had committed the crime of deceiving the army and ordered his feet to be cut off; Li Si tried his best to assist Qin Shi Huang in his reign and make Qin rich and strong, but he was executed by Qin Er Shi. Therefore, Min Zi pretended to be crazy and took refuge in the world. I hope that the king will carefully examine the sincerity of Bianhe and Li Si, and not make the mistake of King Chu and Hu Hai, who were biased in listening and believing, so that I will not be laughed at by Minzi and Jiju. I heard that Bigan’s heart was cut open and Wu Zixu’s body was put into a leather bag and sunk into the river. I hope the king will examine carefully and show me some mercy!
“As the saying goes, ‘There is a white head like a new one, and a tilted lid like an old one.’ If both parties do not know each other, even if they have been in relationship for a lifetime and their hair is white, they will still look like they have just met; if they really know each other, even if they are first friends, they will look like old friends. This is why? Knowing or not knowing each other, not in the length of time spent together ah. So, in the past, Fan Yuqi fled from Qin to Yan and lent his head to Jing Ke to carry out Yan Dan’s mission; Wang Xie left Qi for Wei and killed himself on the city to save Wei from the Qi army. Wang She and Fan Yuqi did not leave Qi and Qin because they were new friends and Yan and Wei because they were old acquaintances, but they left Qi and Qin to die for the two kings of Yan and Wei because they shared the same behavior and ambition and admired justice. That is why Su Qin was not trusted by the world but was as faithful to Yan as Tail Sheng; Bai Gui lost the battle and lost the cities of six states but captured Zhongshan for Wei. Why is this? It is really the reason of meeting the knowledge.”
“I have heard that those who attend the court in a solemn and strict manner do not stain morality by greed for profit and righteousness; those who pursue honor do not corrupt their character by indulging in selfish desires; therefore, the name of the prefecture is “Shengmu” and Zeng Zi does not go in; the name of the city is “Chaoge Therefore, the name of the county was “Shengmu” and Zeng Zi did not go in; the name of the town was “Chaoge” and Mo Zi returned to his car and left. Now, if a person with great ambitions is intimidated by the mighty power and suppressed by the high position, and wants to be close to the king by serving the flattering villain with his evil face and dirty character, then the aspiring person will die in the cave, and how can he follow the king with all his loyalty and faithfulness?”
This letter was presented to King Xiao of Liang. After reading Zou Yang’s letter, King Xiao of Liang was so moved that he immediately sent someone to release Zou Yang from prison. After Zou Yang was released from prison, he was more courageous in advising the king, and the king always listened to Zou Yang’s advice. Later, Zou Yang became the top guest of King Xiao of Liang.
