King Xuan of Zhou, Ji Jing, was a ruler who loved grand achievements and had launched multiple campaigns against northern tribes. In 789 BCE, he led his army into a fierce battle against the Jiang Rong at Qianmu, only to suffer a crushing defeat with heavy losses. Desperate to replenish his forces, he ordered a census of households in the Taiyuan region to conscript more soldiers. Minister Zhongshanfu strongly advised against it, warning, "Your Majesty, the people are already exhausted from war; forcing more conscription will only breed resentment." But the king, deaf to all counsel, pressed on with his plan.
King Xuan of Qi had a peculiar passion: watching cockfights. He ordered his eunuchs to raise dozens of fierce, muscular roosters, and after court each day, he would retreat to the rear palace terrace to enjoy the bloody sport. Over time, he noticed that no matter how valiant a bird, none remained undefeated forever, leaving him perpetually dissatisfied.
Later, King Xuan of Qi heard that a man named Ji Shengzi in the state of Qi was a master chicken trainer, so he sent for him to come to Haojing, the capital of the Western Zhou dynasty, and ordered him to train a fighting cock that would never lose. Ji Shengzi selected a golden-clawed, brightly feathered, high-combed rooster from the flock, and before locking it in a room to begin training, he asked King Xuan not to let anyone disturb him.
Ten days later, the impatient King Xuan could wait no longer and sent someone to ask Ji Shengzi, "Is the fighting cock ready?" Ji Shengzi replied, "Not yet—it is still too proud and aggressive." Another ten days passed, and the king sent another inquiry. Ji Shengzi answered, "Still no—it reacts swiftly to any sound or shadow." After yet another ten days, the king, now thoroughly frustrated, summoned Ji Shengzi directly. Ji Shengzi insisted, "Not yet—this cock still glares and bristles with rage." Puzzled, the king asked, "Isn't glaring and raging a sign of fierce fighting spirit?" Ji Shengzi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, among all the fierce cocks you've raised before, which one ever won every battle?"
After another 10 days, Ji Shengzi came to King Xuan on his own initiative and said, "It's almost ready. Now this rooster shows no reaction at all when hearing other roosters crow, its spirit in a state of deep stillness, looking just like a wooden rooster. When other roosters see it, none dares to fight it and can only turn and run away."
"The idiom 'Dai Ruo Mu Ji' originally meant as dumb as a wooden chicken. Later, it describes someone who is stupid or stunned with surprise."
Source: *Zhuangzi*, Chapter "Da Sheng"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "呆若木鸡" came to describe how someone is stupid or stunned with surprise.