1. Hanging books by horns [niú jiǎo guà shū]
It is a metaphor for diligent study.
Source
"New Tang Book·Li Mi Biography": "I heard that Bao Kai was in Fengshan Mountain, so I followed him. He rode an ox with a cattail and hung a piece of "Han Shu" on it. "On the corner, go and read."
2. Hanging beam thorn [xuán liáng cì gǔ]
"Warring States Policy·Qin Ceyi" records that Su Qin "feels sleepy while reading. "Taiping Yulan" Volume 363 quotes "Book of Han" saying that Sun Jing was eager to learn, "when he was tired and sleepy, he would tie his head with a rope and hang it from the beam". "thorn" describes studying hard. Stock: Thigh.
Source
Western Han Dynasty·Liu Xiang's "Warring States Policy·Qin·Ceyi": "(Su Qin) was about to fall asleep after reading, and he used the awl to stab his buttocks, and the blood flowed to the foot. Eastern Han Dynasty· Ban Gu's "Book of Han": "Sun Jing's writing is a treasure of literature, he is eager to learn, and he never stops working morning and night. When you are tired and sleepy, tie your head with a rope and hang it from the roof beam. ”
3. Hear the cock and dance [wén jī qǐ wǔ]
During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Zu Ti and Liu Kun were both the chief administrators of Sizhou, and they often encouraged each other. When they heard the cock crow in the middle of the night, they got up immediately. Sword dance. The phrase comes from "The Story of Zu Ti" in the Book of Jin. Later, it was used as a metaphor for "rising up when hearing the chicken dance"
Source: "Nian Nujiao·Ti Zhongshan Tower" by Song Dynasty. : "Striking a stick to swear an oath; smelling a chicken and dancing; after all, a hero is the hero. ”
4. Be unsatisfied with learning [xué ér bù yàn]
Be satisfied with. Always feel unsatisfied when studying. Describes the eagerness to learn.
Source
"The Analects of Confucius·Shu Er": "I know it silently; I am not tired of learning; I am not tired of teaching others; what is it for me? ”
5. Chiseling through the wall to steal the light [záo bì tōu guāng]
Originally refers to Kuang Heng in the Western Han Dynasty who chiseled through the wall to allow neighbors to read by candlelight. Later it was used to describe a poor family who studied hard. .
Source
Jin Dynasty Ge Hong's "Miscellaneous Notes on Xijing": "Kuang Heng's courtesy name is Zhi Gui; he studies diligently but has no candle; his neighbor has a candle but cannot catch it; the scale is used to draw light through the wall. ; Read by reflecting the light on the book. ”