jī积xuě雪náng囊yíng萤
To study diligently and assiduously despite poverty or difficult circumstances, often by ingeniously using natural light sources like snow reflection or fireflies; to persevere in one's studies despite hardship.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Jin Dynasty, Che Yin was diligent in his studies from a young age. As his family was poor and could not afford lamp oil for him to read at night, on a summer evening, he saw fireflies flying outside. He caught some fireflies, put them into a white gauze bag, and hung it above his books, using the faint light to read.
In the same dynasty, Sun Kang, also from a poor family, would read by the light reflected from the snow outside his window on snowy nights.