暮鼓晨钟 — “The sound of temple drums at dusk and bells at dawn”

暮鼓晨钟 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “the sound of temple drums at dusk and bells at dawn”. Symbolizing words or influences that awaken and enlighten people, serving as a wake-up call. Literally, “evening drum and morning bell”.

Frequency

暮鼓晨钟 Pronunciation and Pinyin

暮鼓晨钟 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
暮	mù	15	dusk or evening
鼓	gǔ	13	drum, beat, rouse, swell
晨	chén	11	early morning; dawn
钟	zhōng	9	bell, clock, hour, concentrate

Example Sentence with 暮鼓晨钟

智者的教诲，如暮鼓晨钟，总能涤荡人们的心灵，引人深思。

The teachings of wise people, like the evening drum and morning bell, always cleanse people's minds and lead them to deep thought.

Origin and Story of 暮鼓晨钟

The Longmen Grottoes, near Luoyang, began construction during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. On a cliff stretching about one kilometer, nearly 100,000 Buddhist statues were carved.

The highest artistic achievement is found in Fengxian Temple, which houses the 17-meter-tall statue of Lushena Buddha.

Du Fu, a renowned Tang Dynasty poet, depicted the monastic life of morning bells and evening drums in his poem "Visiting Fengxian Temple at Longmen": "The celestial gates press against the constellations, Lying in clouds, clothes are cold. Wishing to awaken, I hear the morning bell, making one deeply ponder."