Once during the Han dynasty (206 BC-219AD), a thief broke into the home of a man called Ch'en Shih. Finding no place to hide, he crawled up onto one of the ceiling beams. Ch'en Shih, discovering the thief, called together his sons and grandsons. Using an admonishing tone of voice for the thief to hear, he said, "No man is born bad. If he does not learn what is right he will ultimately cultivate bad habits and eventually be unable to help himself. The gentleman up on the beam is most likely this type of person."
Surprised by Ch'en's words, the thief hurriedly jumped down and knelt before Ch'en, begging his pardon. Ch'en urged him to reform his ways but did not have him arrested. The ashamed thief never stole again. Later generations then referred to thieves as, 'gentlemen on the beams.'
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