十年寒窗 vs. Lin-sanity (slang)

I’d like to put aside what I haven’t finished with my previous writing “All about eating” to talk about this Lin-sanity, which has been the hottest sports topic these days in Taiwan, after learning online that he did it again—another comeback victory 0.5 second before the end of the game, the sixth win in a row!

For a benchwarmer who turns to a sensation from a nobody in a few days, there’s no other slang fitter than an old saying十年寒窗無人問，一舉成名天下知(shi2 nian2 han2 chuang wu2 ren2 wen4, yi4 ju3 cheng2 ming2 tian xia4 zhi), which refers to what was like with the imperial civil service examination system, 科舉考試(ke ju3 kao3 shi4), when scholars had to be selected through the exam into the government, which was the loftiest  (practically the sole) goal for a 書生(shu sheng), scholar.

So scholars back then had to study very hard for very long, 十年, ten years refers to the span of time. 寒窗literally means cold windows. When you’re only a nobody, you get little attention and few people will visit you. 寒窗 is the expression for your place of loneliness and quietness. Once you passed the exam, however, you become a household name-一舉成名天下知

In traditional Chinese opera or literature, we have so many stories about the process how a書生has risen from poverty and obscurity into an icon when he passes the exam. He finally gets to marry the girl he loves of a prestigious family if you want it to be a comedy. The version for a tragedy would be that he abandons his mediocre wife to marry another woman, a political heavyweight’s daughter in most of cases.

Before Jeremy Lin turned into Lin-credible, he had to worry about getting unemployed and had to sleep on the couch. He hardly had the chance to show what he could, but passed along water or towels for his teammates. Had not Knicks been injury-depleted, would it be possible for us to watch this incredible show? Seeing how he had twisted the game in seconds (or 0.5 second in Toronto Raptors’ case) before the whistle blew, what else can we say except that God is at his side? His performance is really有如神助(you3 ru2 shen2 zhu4), helped by God.

For Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors, who had won the game most of the time until the final seconds, it’s just like what we say, 煮熟的鴨子飛了(zhu3 shou2 di ya zi3 fei le), the cooked duck flies away. Just when you think you can start eating the duck, it’s taken away right under your nose!

We certainly don’t hope this Lin-sanity to be a flash in the pan, 曇花一現(tan2 hwa yi2 xian4). 曇花, the night-blooming cereus, no matter you like the game or the legend.

十年寒窗無人問，一舉成名天下知=十年寒窗无人问，一举成名天下知

科舉考試=科举考试

書生=书生

煮熟的鴨子飛了=煮熟的鸭子飞了

曇花一現=昙花一现