刑不上大夫
xíng​bù​shàng​dà​fū

high officials are exempt from corporal punishment

刑不上大夫 xíng​bù​shàng​dà​fū
high officials are exempt from corporal punishment
An ancient Chinese legal and social principle stating that high officials should not be subjected to physical penalties or common law punishments, emphasizing their status and moral self-discipline over legal coercion.