Origin: Breaking the Wall and Stealing Light in Volume II of Liu Xin's Miscellanies of Xijing in Han Dynasty.
Original text:
Kuang Heng studies hard without candles. His neighbor has candles but he can't catch them. Balance is to send its light through the wall and read it with a book that reflects the light. City people can't read their surnames. They have money at home and many books. Therefore, Heng is cooperating with him, not claiming compensation. The master asked Heng strangely, and Heng said, "May the master read all the books." The host sighed, gave books and became a university.
Translation:
Kuang Heng is diligent and studious, but there are no candles at home. There are candles next door, but light can't reach Kuang Heng's house. Kuang Heng dug a hole in the wall to attract the light from his neighbor's house, so that the light could shine on the book to read. There is a large family in the community called illiterate. The family is rich and has many books. Kuang Heng went to a cultured family as an employee, but he didn't want to be paid.
The host felt very strange and asked Kuang Heng why he did it. Kuang Heng said, "Master, Kuang Heng wants to read all the books of his master's family." When the host heard this sentence, he sighed deeply and gave the book to Kuang Heng. Therefore, Kuang Heng became a great scholar.
Extended data:
Ancient universities:
In ancient times, it had two meanings: the realm of "erudition"; "Adult learning" as opposed to "primary school". Ancient children went to primary school at the age of eight, mainly studying cultural lessons and basic etiquette such as "sweeping, coping, advancing and retreating, shooting books with ceremony and music". /kloc-After 0/5 years old, you can enter the university and begin to learn the knowledge of morality, politics, philosophy, etc.
Although there are obvious differences between these two meanings, they both mean "erudite"
Baidu encyclopedia-poaching and stealing light
Baidu encyclopedia-university