“Bā” zì yámen cháo nán kāi, yǒulǐ wú qián mò jìnlái.

“八” 字衙門朝南開, 有理無錢莫近來。

Lit The yamen [gate] faces south, open wide [like the Chinese character for] “eight”; [if you're] right but poor, don't go inside.

Fig Without money for bribes, don't expect any justice from a magistrate [in traditional China].

Note [Rhyme; the yámen was a county magistrate's office in traditional imperial China; see also yámen bā zì below.]

Topics Chinese characters CORRUPTION JUSTICE MAGISTRATES traditional China yámen