Basic Info Chinese Idiom: 闻鸡起舞Pinyin: wén jī qǐ wǔLiteral meaning: Rise to practice sword-dancing upon hearing roosters crow.Extended meaning: Ambitious people seize every moment to strive hard and temper themselves for lofty goals. Cultural Supplement This idiom comes from a famous inspirational historical story, Zu Ti’s Northern Expedition, in ancient China. It has always…
This article recounts the fall of Western Jin and the founding of Eastern Jin. After Emperors Huai and Min were captured and killed, Sima Rui established Eastern Jin in Jiankang with Wang Dao’s support. The era’s famous saying “Wang and Ma rule together” emerged. Meanwhile, northern heroes Liu Kun and Zu Ti died disappointed,…