Reflections | Why Hong Kong’s protesters do not want to ‘cut the reed mat’ – they believe they are stronger together

The phrase “cutting the reed mat” (got zik in Cantonese; ge xi in Mandarin) refers to the severance of ties between allies. It originated in the story of two friends Guan Ning (158–241) and Hua Qin (157–232). One day in their youth, the pair were planting vegetables together in the garden when Guan’s hoe struck a piece of gold. Guan ignored it but Hua picked up the piece of precious metal, looked at it for some moments before tossing it aside.

On another occasion, they were sitting on a reed mat studying when a retinue of people in resplendent clothing passed by. Guan ignored the procession but Hua put down his book and went to take a look at the spectacle. In response, Guan took a knife and cut the reed mat they had been sitting on in two, saying to Hua: “You are not my friend.” From this story, came the Chinese phrase for the conscious termination of a friendship or alliance due to differences of purpose.

Guan and Hua went their separate ways after completing their studies. To escape the chaos of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the fighting between warlords that followed, Guan fled north to Liaodong (present-day Liaoning province), where he was warmly welcomed by its administrator, who had been enamoured of Guan’s famed erudition. Guan, however, refused to serve in any official capacity and instead devoted himself to education. As a teacher, he was well-loved and highly respected in Liaodong.

When a semblance of peace returned to China, Guan decided to return home from the far north. Both Emperor Wen of the Wei dynasty, who ruled the country north of the Yangtze River, and his successor Emperor Ming appointed Guan to high positions in government, but he declined the positions, as well as repeated requests from the latter to serve at court, citing his advanced age and ill health. He died at the age of 84, a renowned scholar without any official rank or title.