📖 Meaning
Literally 'morning bell, evening drum,' this idiom refers to the Buddhist temple practice of striking the bell in the morning and beating the drum at night to mark the hours and rouse the faithful. It is used figuratively to describe words, advice, or admonitions that are sobering and awakening, capable of jolting people out of complacency and leading them to reflection.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom derives from the daily ritual of Chinese Buddhist temples, where the morning bell and evening drum both marked the passage of time and called monks to devotion. It is attributed to the Tang dynasty poet Li Xianyong (李咸用), whose poem 'In the Mountains' (《山中》) contains the line '朝钟暮鼓不到耳，明月孤云长挂情' ('the morning bell and evening drum never reach my ears; only the bright moon and lone clouds linger in my heart'). The Song dynasty writer Ouyang Xiu (欧阳修) later used the expression in his poem 'Song of Mount Lu' (《庐山高》). Over time, the temple bells and drums came to symbolize words of warning that awaken and enlighten the listener.
💡 Example Usage
他的劝诫如晨钟暮鼓，及时点醒了我。
His admonition was like the morning bell and evening drum, awakening me in time.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 晨钟暮鼓
- Pinyin: chén zhōng mù gǔ
- Literal Translation: morning, bell, evening, drum
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4