Sima Guang, a prominent Northern Song Dynasty official and renowned historian, was diligent and studious from childhood, devouring history books with a passion and vowing to become a historian himself. During Emperor Yingzong's reign, he was indeed commissioned to compile the *Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government*. With the assistance of historians like Liu Shu and Fan Zuyu, he spent 19 years completing China's largest chronological history, covering 1,362 years of major events from the Warring States period to the Five Dynasties, totaling over 3 million characters—a richly detailed and scientifically valuable work.
During the compilation of this monumental work, Sima Guang dedicated himself tirelessly, often writing late into the night. Fearing that too much sleep would delay his progress, he crafted a special round wooden "warning pillow" that would roll away if he dozed too deeply, forcing him to wake and resume his labors. It is said that after completing the entire history, the discarded drafts and fragments stored in Luoyang filled two entire rooms.
Sima Guang's diligent and hardworking scholarly attitude earned widespread praise. Once, Sima Guang asked his friend Shao Bowen's father, Shao Yong:
"You, venerable sir, what kind of person do you take me for?"
Shao Yong, a renowned philosopher of his time, praised Sima Guang, saying:
"I see you as someone who is down-to-earth." Later, the idiom "down-to-earth" came to describe being steady and practical in work or study, without exaggeration.
Source: Shao Bowen (Song Dynasty), *Records of Things Heard and Seen by Mr. Shao*
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "脚踏实地" came to describe being steady and practical in work or study, without exaggeration.