【Explanation】
"Shě" means to abandon; "zhú" means to pursue. This idiom is a metaphor for focusing on trivial details while neglecting the fundamental aspects of a matter. It describes abandoning the core, essential parts of something and instead chasing after peripheral, secondary details. It refers to failing to address the main issues while obsessing over minor points. It is often used to criticize someone who confuses priorities and cannot distinguish between what is urgent and important. It is also expressed as "qì běn zhú mò" (abandoning the root to pursue the branches) or "shě běn qiú mò" (abandoning the root to seek the branches). The difference from the similar idiom "běn mò dào zhì" (putting the cart before the horse) is this: "běn mò dào zhì" implies reversing the main and secondary aspects of something, but does not necessarily mean abandoning one. "Shě běn zhú mò" means tackling a problem not at its root, but by focusing efforts on minor details, explicitly implying the abandonment of the primary aspects.
【Source】
Warring States period · Lü Buwei, *Lüshi Chunqiu · Shang Nong*: "When the people abandon the root and pursue the branches, they become unruly. When unruly, they cannot defend or fight. When the people abandon the root and pursue the branches, their wealth diminishes. With diminished wealth, they become prone to migration. When prone to migration, if the state faces disaster, they all harbor distant ambitions and have no intention of settling down."
【Translation】
Warring States period · Lü Buwei, *Lüshi Chunqiu · Shang Nong*: "When the common people abandon agriculture—the fundamental basis—and engage in commerce and crafts—the secondary pursuits—they become unruly. When unruly, they cannot defend the territory or wage war. When the common people abandon agriculture—the fundamental basis—and engage in commerce and crafts—the secondary pursuits—their wealth decreases. With decreased wealth, people become prone to relocating. When people are prone to relocating, then if the state suffers calamity, they will all have thoughts of fleeing far away, with no intention of living in peace and contentment."
【The Story Behind the Idiom】
During the Warring States period, the state of Qi sent an envoy to visit Queen Dowager Zhao Wei Hou in order to foster good diplomatic relations with the state of Zhao. The Qi envoy had never been to Zhao before, nor had he met Queen Dowager Zhao. However, he had long heard that she was a wise and virtuous queen, so he happily accepted the mission. Upon arriving in Handan, he went straight to the Zhao royal palace to greet the queen dowager. Zhao Wei Hou indeed lived up to her reputation for wisdom. When the Qi envoy was led into the inner palace by a beautiful lady-in-waiting, the queen dowager was already seated on an embroidered stool, waiting for him. She carried herself with dignity and authority, yet her face radiated kindness. After the envoy bowed in greeting, he presented the gifts prepared by the King of Qi and handed over the king's personal letter to the queen dowager. Before even opening the king's letter, Zhao Wei Hou asked the envoy, "How was the harvest in Qi this year? Are the common people doing well? Is the King of Qi in good health?" "Good, good, good," the envoy replied. After answering her questions, the envoy felt somewhat displeased. He said, "I have come on the orders of our king, specifically to express his regards to you, Your Majesty. Logically, your response should have first inquired about the health of our king, and then asked about the harvest and the people. How is it that you placed the lowly matters first and the noble matter last?" Queen Dowager Zhao smiled and replied, "That's not how it should be said. Think about it: without a good harvest, on what basis can the common people survive and prosper? Without the common people, how can the king be supported? Therefore, my way of asking is reasonable. To ask otherwise would be to abandon the fundamental and attend first to the trivial." The Qi envoy was deeply impressed by the queen dowager's words and felt ashamed of his own impolite attitude. Later, the phrase "abandoning the root and asking about trivial matters" was extended into the idiom "shě běn zhú mò," describing someone who neglects fundamentals and focuses only on minor details.