Carrying the Birch and Asking for Flogging

Bronze ice container (bingjian) of the Warring States Period.
Source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/drs2biz/

It happened in the warring States Period. At a banquet of Qin, Lin Xiangru, a senior offical of Zhao, with his wit and bravery, earned much reputation for Zhao . 

In gratitude the king promoted Lin Xiangru to Shangdafu (senior offical in feudal China) and soon to Shangqing, which ranked even higher and equal to Prime Minister. 

The honor offered to Lin Xiangru, however, aroused the discontentment of Lian Po, the commander-in-chief of Zhao troops, who threatened to humiliated Lin in public. Leraning of this, Lin Xiangru just tried to be tolerant and avoid confronting Lian Po, which really confused Lin’s attendants. 

Lin said that it was Lin and Lian who deterred Qin, the great power from invanding Zhao, and the cotention between them would surely give the enemy an advantage to take. As a minister of the country, how could he risk the safety of the country for his own petty pried? 

When these words were conveyed to Lian Po, he was overwhelmed with remorse and with a birch on the naked back he went to Lin’s mansion straightaway asking for punishment. 

The phrase “carrying the birch and asking for flogging” was later used to mean offering one’s humble apology to others.