Song Hong was a high-ranking official during the Eastern Han Dynasty, serving as a grand master under Emperor Guangwu (Liu Xiu) and later acting as Minister of Works, enfeoffed as Marquis of Xuanping.
Song Hong, though a high-ranking official, lived without personal wealth and was renowned for his integrity, earning the deep respect of Emperor Liu Xiu. One day, during a casual chat, Liu Xiu kept glancing back at a screen painted with countless beautiful women. Song Hong thought, "Your Majesty, this is too much," and said sternly, "I have never seen you love virtue as much as you love beauty." Liu Xiu immediately ordered the screen removed and replied with a smile, "I correct my faults when I hear the right advice—is that acceptable?" Song Hong responded, "Your willingness to accept criticism humbly truly delights me!"
After Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty's sister, Princess Huyang, was widowed, he wanted her to remarry someone from his court. Discussing candidates, the princess said, "Song Hong is excellent—no one compares to him." Days later, the emperor summoned Song Hong and probed, "They say rising in rank brings more friends, and wealth leads to abandoning one's wife—isn't that human nature?" Song Hong replied, "I've heard that one must never forget friends made in poverty, nor cast aside the wife who shared hardship." After Song Hong left, the emperor told his sister, "Song Hong deeply loves his wife—you should look for someone else." Source: *Book of the Later Han*, "Biography of Song Hong"
Later, the idiom "Friends Made in Humble Times" came to refer to friends made during poverty. Also written as "Poverty-forged Friendship."
Source: *Book of the Later Han*, "Biography of Song Hong"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "贫贱之知" came to describe friends made during poverty.