also: たいぎおやをほろぼす
sacrifice family for a greater cause
A set phrase expressing the idea that one must sometimes put a higher moral or public duty above personal family ties. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts.
He served his country with the resolve to sacrifice family for a greater cause.
The phrase 'taigi shin o messu' represents the dilemma between loyalty and filial piety.
While 大義親を滅す emphasizes sacrificing family for a greater cause, 忠孝両全 refers to the ideal of fulfilling both loyalty to one's lord and filial piety without conflict.
Standard kanji form for this expression; the reading たいぎしんをめっす is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common and may be considered archaic or literary.
From the classical Chinese idiom 大義滅親, recorded in the 『春秋左氏伝』, describing the subordination of family loyalty to public justice or a greater moral duty.