Wish to ride the wind and break thousands of miles of waves, willing to face the wall and read for ten years, the meaning and origin of the book

It means: I hope to ride on the wind and waves, overcome difficulties and move forward bravely; I am willing to face the wall for ten years, study hard and improve my abilities.

These two sentences come from Sun Yat-sen's self-encouragement couplet.

This couplet embeds two allusions.

One is Zong Cui of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. He had lofty ambitions since he was a child, and practiced martial arts carefully and assiduously. Only after he succeeded did he say to his uncle: "If I have the ability, I can ride on the wind and travel thousands of miles." Lang." Later, Zong Tie really became a famous general.

Another allusion is that Bodhidharma once meditated against the stone wall in Shaolin Temple for ten years and finally understood the true meaning of Buddhism. Legend has it that after Bodhidharma faced the stone wall for a long time, his image was left on the stone wall, like a vague ink painting.

Extended information

Sun Yat-sen was a great revolutionary pioneer. He kept reading books all his life and learned both Chinese and Western literature. Although he was not famous for his poetry, he skillfully used Chinese traditions to meet the needs of the revolutionary struggle. The cultural form - couplets, expresses one's true feelings, expresses one's true feelings, and expresses revolutionary sentiments. During his decades of revolutionary struggle, he left behind many historically significant and valuable couplets.

In 1877, when Sun Yat-sen was a child, he attended a private school in his hometown. The professional master Cheng Jisheng once responded with the words "tiger and leopard are sincere and capable", and Sun Yat-sen responded with "dragon and snake are unknown". Sun Yat-sen's response was smooth and coordinated, with skillful wording and profound implications. The school teacher was very happy to see that he was smart and quick to respond, so he patted his head and praised him: "You are a little prodigy", but Sun Yat-sen immediately responded: "I am the president."

In 1907, the revolutionary Xu Xilin was brutally murdered after assassinating Enming, the governor of Anhui. Later, Mr. Zhongshan made a couplet to commemorate it, which said: "A little sacrifice with a little heart to sacrifice the remaining meat, and the white bones will be fragrant after three years." The term "loyalty" not only praises the martyrs for their daring loyalty to the revolution, but also angrily condemns the inhumanity of the Qing court. It is very appropriate to praise the martyrs who will be remembered forever.

Cai E died of illness in Japan. Sun Yat-sen was deeply saddened and made an elegiac couplet for Cai E: "He was a generous guardian throughout his life, and guarded his horses for thousands of miles." He compared Cai Songpo to Ban Chao and General Baima who made immortal achievements in the country. Based on the achievements of these two historical figures, his evaluation of Cai E was appropriate and reminiscent.

In 1916, Sun Yat-sen visited the Fengyu Pavilion in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province to pay tribute to the martyr Qiu Jin who was brutally killed by the feudal rulers in 1907. He wrote an elegiac couplet: "Edo Yadanchen, I would like to thank you for your first praise of the Alliance." "Xuan Pavilion sprinkled green blood, I am ashamed to recruit the spirit of a heroic woman." The couplet praises Qiu Jin's righteous deeds of taking the lead in joining the Tongmenghui in his early years in Edo, Japan, and his spirit of sacrificing everything to serve the motherland. It is sincere and touching.

Baidu Encyclopedia--Sun Yat-sen

Baidu Encyclopedia--Zongqi rides the wind and waves

Baidu Encyclopedia--Dharma Faces the Wall