悬头刺股 — “To study extremely diligently and assiduously”

During the Han Dynasty, Sun Jing, a renowned Confucian scholar, was incredibly dedicated to his studies as a child. He frequently read late into the night, and to prevent himself from falling asleep, he would tie his hair with a rope to the ceiling beam.

Similarly, during the Warring States period, the strategist Su Qin experienced a setback when his lobbying efforts in the State of Qin failed. Determined to achieve success and recognition, he committed himself to intense study. He read late every day, and whenever he felt drowsy, he would use an iron awl to prick his thigh, ensuring he stayed awake and focused.