What does the story of Sima Guang smashing a jar mean?

From then on, he held the book in his hand and refused to put it down, almost to the point where he didn't know about hunger and thirst and the alternation of seasons.

From: Arutu [Late Yuan Dynasty], History of Song Dynasty.

Guangsheng, born at the age of seven, is as awe-inspiring as an adult. As soon as he heard about Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals, he couldn't put it down. When he told it to his family, he lost his big finger. Naturally, I can't put down my books. I don't know if I'm hungry or thirsty.

Interpretation: Sima Guang was already like an adult when he was 7 years old (ancient adults meant weak crowns, 16 years old, not now 18 years old). He especially likes to listen to Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals, and come back to tell his family after understanding its main idea. From then on, I couldn't put it down for Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals, even forgetting hunger and cold.

Extended data:

Creation background

The History of Song Dynasty is one of the twenty-four histories, and it is included in the official history category of the History Department of Sikuquanshu. From the end of Yuan Dynasty to Zheng Zheng for three years (1343), it was edited by Prime Minister Tuotuo and Arutu successively. The History of Song Dynasty was published in the first edition, and the second edition was reprinted by Chenghua Zhu Ying. At the beginning of Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan of Yuan Shizu wrote a letter to revise the History of Song Dynasty, but it failed because of different styles and titles.

In March of the third year of Yuan Shundi (1343), he ordered the revision of the three histories of Liao, Jin and Song. Seven people, including Timur Tazhi, He, Zhang Qiyan and Ouyang Xuan, served as the Chief Executive, and 23 historians, including Wo Yulun, Taibuhua, Yu Wenchuan, Gong Shidao, Yu Kan, Jia Lu and others, resigned in May of four years (1344) and were succeeded by Arutu, the right prime minister of Zhongshu.

Zheng Zheng five years (1345) it took only two and a half years to write this book in October. Zheng Zheng six years (1346), published in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

The story of Sima Guang smashing a jar

When Sima Guang was seven years old, he was as steady as an adult. When he heard the teacher explain Zuo's Chunqiu, he liked it very much. After school, he told his family what he had learned. He immediately understood the connotation of Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals. From then on, he couldn't put books in his hand, and even forgot hunger and cold.

Once, he and his friends were playing in the backyard, and a child climbed into the vat and fell into the water in the vat. When the other children saw something was wrong, they all gave up and ran away, but Sima Guang used his quick wits to pick up a big stone from the ground and hit it hard at the water tank. The water gushed out and the child was saved.