Gǔdài de dúshūrén dōu mèngxiǎng yǒu yì tiān néng chángōng-zhéguì.
Scholars in ancient times all dreamed of one day passing the imperial exams.
Tips
history
In the 《晋书》, the scholar Xi Shen, who came first in the examination, called himself "one branch of the cassia forest". Legend puts a cassia tree in the moon, the "toad palace" 蟾宫, so snapping off a branch there came to mean passing the exams.
culture
The provincial exams were held in the eighth lunar month, when osmanthus (the same 桂) is in bloom, and the list of those who passed was called the 桂榜. Today the phrase is a set wish for students before the 高考.
