Zu Ti of the Jin Dynasty (265-420) was a man of broad mind and great ambition. However, as a child, he was mischievous and disliked studying. Upon reaching young adulthood, he acutely felt his lack of knowledge and realized that without diligent study, he could not serve his country effectively. Thus, he devoted himself to learning. He read extensively, studied history seriously, and absorbed a wealth of knowledge, making significant progress in his scholarship. He visited the capital, Luoyang, several times, and those who met him remarked that Zu Ti was a talent capable of assisting an emperor in governing the nation. At age 24, when recommended for an official post, he declined, choosing instead to continue his studies with unwavering effort.
Later, both Zu Ti and his childhood friend Liu Kun were appointed as chief clerks in Sizhou Prefecture. They shared a deep bond, often sleeping in the same bed, and, more importantly, a common lofty ideal: to achieve great deeds, revive the Jin Dynasty, and become pillars of the state.
One midnight, Zu Ti heard a rooster crow in his dream. He kicked Liu Kun awake and said, "Most people consider a midnight crow unlucky, but I disagree. Why don't we get up and practice swordplay whenever we hear the rooster from now on?" Liu Kun readily agreed. Hence, every day at the rooster's crow, they rose to practice swordplay, their blades glinting and clashing. Through spring and winter, year after year, they never ceased. Their perseverance paid off. After long periods of intense study and training, they became versatile masters of both civil and military arts—skilled in writing excellent essays and leading troops to victory. Zu Ti was conferred the title "General for Guarding the Western Regions," fulfilling his wish to serve his country. Liu Kun became a governor, overseeing military affairs in three prefectures, where he fully displayed his literary and martial talents.
This story comes from The History of the Jin Dynasty: Biography of Zu Ti. The idiom "rising with the rooster to practice swordplay" describes diligent self-improvement and symbolizes how people with noble aspirations motivate themselves in a timely manner.