」裂衣斷帶相望而不止。
Lord Jing had his officials prohibit such dressing, saying, “Women who dress as men shall have their clothes torn and their waistbands broken,” but people with torn clothes and broken waistbands could then be seen everywhere, and the practice did not end.
晏子見，公曰：「寡人使吏禁女子而男子飾者，裂其衣斷其帶相望而不止者，何也？
When Yanzi came for an audience, Lord Jing said to him, “I have had our officials prohibit women from dressing like men, but people with torn clothes and broken waistbands continue to be seen everywhere.
」對曰：「君使服之於內，而禁之於外，猶懸牛首於門，而求買馬肉也。
Why is this?” “Encouraging one form of dress within the palace while prohibiting it outside,” said Yanzi, “is like hanging an ox’s head from the gate and seeking purchasers of horse flesh.
公胡不使內勿服，則外莫敢為也！」
Why don’t you forbid palace women to dress this way—then no one outside will dare do it.” This term frequently refers to actions of a conspicuously gallant or swashbuckling nature, such as a military man like Tai-gong might undertake.