There was a knot before it was unearthed. Speaking of Lingyun, it was modest. What do you mean?

This sentence means that before it grows out of soil, it is already a cross section, and even if it grows to a very high height, it remains humble and humble.

From: Xu's Ode to Bamboo in the Northern Song Dynasty. The whole poem is as follows:

Whether it is a pavilion or a mountain forest, does Aier have only a thousand acres of shade? There was a knot before it was unearthed, and Lingyun had no intention of going. Gebei began to merge with the dragon, and Igu chatted with Phoenix. The moon is bright and the night is clear, and the poor prince has a bosom friend.

No matter between the pavilion and the mountain, I like you not only because you can support a shade, but also because it has been a section before the soil grows. Even if I grow to a very high height, I still remain humble and humble. Bambusa lobata deformed with the dragon and was taken from the valley. Just like the phoenix singing, the moonlight is bright and the breeze is slow. It's a pity that I only have you as my confidant.

Extended data:

Xu, the third son of Xu Zhongxing, a famous scholar in Song Dynasty, was deeply influenced by his father. Xu once taught Zheng (Yongjia School), the magistrate of Huangyan County, to study Neo-Confucianism. Together with his father, he was called "Mr. Erxu". He is an out-and-out honest and frank person who is passionate about education. When Qin Gui was in China, he took part in the imperial examination, and the topic was "Zhongxing". He sighed. "Do you celebrate today's time?" I handed in a blank sheet of paper and gave five reasons for my inadequacy. Since then, it has been insulated from official career.

He is at home, with his father, and he also takes teaching as his career. One day, he went out to visit an old friend and came back a few months later. "Feeling slightly ill, sitting in print. Five out of eighty. " Known as "Mr. Wen Jie".