Unlocking the Secrets of Wealth: The Timeless Wisdom of ‘Three Gatherings, Three Distributions’

The proverb “gather three times, give away three times” praises those who not only accumulate wealth but also return it to their neighbors and to society.

In a capitalist society that prizes material success, this ancient adage reminds us that how you redistribute your wealth matters more than how much you possess.

The phrase originates in Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian—specifically the Hua-shi Lie-zhuan. Later generations admired Fan Li of the state of Yue, from the Spring and Autumn period, for amassing great wealth and giving it away three times, and they coined the expression in his honor.

Fan Li advised King Goujian of Yue and played a decisive role in defeating their long-time rival, the state of Wu, but he soon parted ways with the king. He concluded that Goujian could share hardship but could not be trusted to share comfort. Wen Zhong, a fellow merit-holder, refused Fan Li’s proposal to leave together and—after hearing Fan Li warn that once the prize is won the helper may be discarded (the proverb “kill the dog once the hare is caught”)—later committed suicide during the king’s purge.

After leaving Yue, Fan Li entered commerce in the state of Ji and made a fortune. He later settled in a place called Tao and amassed substantial wealth, which he repeatedly distributed to neighbors and relatives.

The saying became known as san ju san san (三聚三散), literally “three gatherings, three dispersals.” Because Fan Li used his fortune responsibly to help the needy, he remains an exemplar of business conduct in Chinese culture.

Sima Qian put it bluntly: “When people spoke of the rich, they all mentioned Tao Zhu Gong (言富者皆稱陶朱公).” Tao Zhu Gong was another name for Fan Li.

People naturally wonder how to minimize taxes and maximize what they leave to their heirs—an understandable impulse, especially among the very wealthy.

Accumulating large fortunes reflects individual effort, but it also depends on society and the state. South Korea became a developed country through an arduous process that relied on government support and the sacrifices of its working classes. While the government now devotes substantial resources to universal welfare, structural limits and gaps remain.

European systems generally place public welfare at their core, with private donations filling gaps or funding targeted social programs, local projects, and international relief. The United States relies heavily on major private donors such as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, and South Korea has tended toward that U.S.-style model: conglomerates like Samsung, LG and Booyoung Group make sizable contributions, while individual philanthropy remains relatively weak.

Fortunately, workplace giving is on the rise, with many employees on modest salaries arranging small monthly transfers. Politicians have joined in as well—one lawmaker drew attention by regularly donating roughly 25% of his salary, including monthly gifts to a pastor who runs a free-meal program. Corporate philanthropy has also grown and sometimes takes unconventional forms; for example, Booyoung Group offers substantial childbirth incentives to its employees as a social contribution to counter falling birth rates.

The story of Fan Li’s “three gatherings, three dispersals,” from roughly 2,500 years ago, still teaches us how to steward wealth: true success lies not in being driven by money but in managing it through generosity.

/Song Geum-ho, writer and journalist