By boring a hole in the next door neighbor’s wall, he borrows light in order to read. Well-known scholar Kuang Heng in the Western Han Dynasty loved reading but his family was too poor to afford candles for him to read at night, so he chiseled a hole in the next door neighbor’s wall to “borrow light” in order to read. He later became a great scholar. As an inspirational story in ancient times, its significance extends beyond the story itself. It tells how important it is to be diligent in gaining knowledge.

Kuang Heng, also known as Zhigui, was very diligent in his studies but had no candles to allow him to read at night. The next door neighbor had candles but there was no way for him to use the light unless he chiseled a hole in the wall. He did so and was able to read with the ray of light from the next door neighbor. (Ge Hong: Collection of Miscellaneous Stories in the Western Capital)