"Encouragement to Study"

Tang Yan Zhenqing

The lights are on at three o'clock and the chickens are on at five o'clock, which is when men are studying.

Black-haired people don’t know how to study early, and white-haired people regret studying late.

Translation:

Hard-working people and hard-working students are still working and studying in the middle of the night.

The lights are still on at the middle of the night. After turning off the lights and lying down for a short rest, the rooster crows at the fifth watch, and these hard-working people have to get up and get busy again. If you don't know how to study diligently when you are young, it will be too late to study when you are old.

About the author

Yan Zhenqing (709-August 23, 784), courtesy name Qingchen, nicknamed Xianmenzi, nicknamed Yingfang, was born in Jingzhao Wannian ( Today's Shaanxi), his ancestral home is Langya (now Shandong), the fifth descendant of Yan Shigu and the younger brother of Yan Gaoqing, a famous official and outstanding calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. In the 22nd year of Kaiyuan (734), Yan Zhenqing ascended to the rank of Jinshi. He was appointed as the supervisory censor four times and moved to the palace to serve as the censor.