learn chinese in hong kong – Learn Chinese idioms -Rousing the Spirits with the First Drum Roll

Mandarin Lesson

During the Spring and Autumn Period, an army from the State of Qi confronted one from the State of Lu. After the first roll of drums from the Qi side to summon Lu to battle, the Lu ruler wanted to attack. But his counsellor Cao Gui said, ‘We should wait until the third drum roll, sire.’ After the Qi side had beaten the drums three times, the Lu army attacked and defeated the Qi army. After the battle, the king asked Cao Gui the reason for his odd advice. Cao Gui answered, ‘Fighting needs spirit. Their spirit was aroused by the first roll or the drums, but was depleted by the second. And it was completely exhausted by the third. We started to attack when their spirit was exhausted. That’s why we won.’

This idiom later meant to get something done with one sustained effort.  

一鼓作氣
春秋時代，齊國派兵攻打魯國。魯國的國王魯莊公帶著謀士曹劌指揮作戰。齊軍第一次擊鼓以後，魯軍準備發起進攻。曹劌說：“不行。”齊軍三次擊鼓以後，曹劌才說：“現在可以進攻了。”結果齊軍大敗。戰鬥結束後，魯莊公問曹劌勝利的原因。曹劌說：“打仗要靠勇氣。第一次擊鼓，士氣十分旺盛；第二次擊鼓，士氣有些衰落；第三次擊鼓，士氣就消耗盡了。敵人士氣耗盡，我們發起進攻，所以取得了勝利。”
 
後來，“一鼓作氣”形容鼓起勁頭，一下子把事情幹完。