English Original
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.
中文翻译
晋代的祖逖是个胸怀坦荡、具有远大抱负的人。可他小时候却是个不爱读书的淘气孩子。进入青年时代，他深感自己知识贫乏，明白不读书便无法报效国家，于是发奋学习。他广泛阅读，研习历史，汲取了丰富知识，学问大有长进。他曾几次进出京都洛阳，接触过他的人都称赞他是能辅佐帝王治国的人才。24岁时，有人推荐他去做官，他没有答应，仍然不懈地努力读书。
后来，祖逖和幼时好友刘琨一同担任司州主簿。两人感情深厚，不仅常常同床而卧，更有着共同的远大理想：建功立业，复兴晋国，成为国家的栋梁之才。
一次，半夜里祖逖在睡梦中听到公鸡鸣叫。他一脚把刘琨踢醒，对他说：“别人都认为半夜听见鸡叫不吉利，我偏不这样想。咱们以后听见鸡叫就起床练剑如何？”刘琨欣然同意。于是他们每天鸡叫后就起床练剑，剑光飞舞，剑声铿锵。寒来暑往，从不间断。功夫不负有心人，经过长期的刻苦学习和训练，他们终于成为能文能武的全才，既能写得一手好文章，又能带兵打胜仗。祖逖被封为镇西将军，实现了他报效国家的愿望；刘琨做了都督，兼管三州军事，也充分发挥了他的文才武略。
故事出自《晋书·祖逖传》。成语“闻鸡起舞”形容发奋有为，也比喻有志之士及时振作、自我激励。