Dào gāo yī chǐ; mó gāo yī zhàng.*

Lit If the Tao/Buddha rises one foot, the demon rises ten feet.

Fig [Originally:] The virtuous are outnumbered by evil doers. [Now:] One just force outnumbers an opposing force, or, no sooner does one solve one problem than another arises.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 36; JW, chap. 50; Mao Dun's novel Zǐyè (Midnight). The change in meaning is discussed by Guang Lu in Shū Lín 1979; note: ten Chinese feet (chǐ) equal one zhàng.]

Topics chǐ Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì Guǎng Lù JUSTICE JW Mao Dun Midnight PROBLEMS Shū Lín VIRTUE zhàng Zǐyè