To be highly skilled or proficient at something, performing tasks with ease and precision as if one's hands effortlessly execute one's thoughts; to handle something deftly.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
In ancient times, when Pao Ba played the qin (a zither-like instrument), birds would dance to the music, and fish would leap out of the water to listen. Shi Wen, from the State of Zheng, heard of this and went to become a student of Master Xiang to learn the qin.
After studying for three years, Shi Wen could only touch the strings with his fingers but couldn't play a complete tune. Master Xiang reluctantly said, "You can go home now."
Shi Wen dropped his qin and sighed, "It's not that I don't know the finger techniques, nor that I can't play a complete tune. It's because my heart isn't truly in the qin, and there's no music in my heart. Since my inner self cannot find the feeling of music, my fingers cannot coordinate with the strings. Please give me more time to find that musical feeling."
Before long, Shi Wen returned to see Master Xiang. Master Xiang asked, "How is your qin practice?" Shi Wen replied, "I have found the feeling of music. Please listen to me play a piece."
When he struck the 'shang' string and played the 'nanlü' tune in spring, a cold wind suddenly arose, and all the plants bore fruit. When he struck the 'jue' string and played the 'jiazhong' tune in autumn, a gentle breeze softly blew, and flowers and trees bloomed and sprouted.
When he struck the 'yu' string and played the 'huangzhong' tune in summer, frost and snow fell together, and the rivers and ponds froze. When he struck the 'zhi' string and played the 'ruibin' tune in winter, the sunlight became scorching hot, and thick ice instantly melted.
As the piece neared its end, he played the 'gong' string as the main one, together with the other four strings. At this point, a harmonious wind blew, auspicious clouds drifted in the sky, sweet dew fell, and clear springs gushed from the ground.
Master Xiang put his hand over his heart and jumped with joy, exclaiming, "Your playing is truly marvelous! Even Shi Kuang's 'qingjue' or Zou Yan's 'blowing lü' cannot compare to you. I should now take up my qin and pipes and learn from you!"