During the Warring States period, Su Qin of Luoyang studied rhetoric and strategy under the wise master Guiguzi. After completing his studies, he traveled through various states, hoping his political strategies would one day be accepted by their rulers.
The state of Qin, a major power in the west, grew strong by leveraging its favorable geography to develop agriculture, yet at that time, its strength was still no match for the other great states.
Su Qin's long journey to the state of Qin was aimed at persuading the King of Qin to form an alliance with the states east of Hangu Pass and compete against other coalitions.
However, King Hui of Qin did not heed his advice. The king replied, "Our state of Qin is like a fledgling bird whose feathers have not yet fully grown—it cannot take flight. I am grateful that you, sir, traveled a thousand li to enlighten me. As for the matter of becoming hegemon or emperor, I hope to hear your esteemed insights at a more opportune time in the future."
After exhausting all his funds in the state of Qin and submitting over a dozen memorials to the king without success, Su Qin had no choice but to slink home in defeat. At this point, he was like a fledgling bird with unformed feathers, unable to take flight on the turbulent political stage.
Dragging his exhausted body and wounded heart back home, his family not only showed no understanding but also mistreated him.
Su Qin sighed, "My wife does not see me as a husband, my parents do not see me as a son, and my sister-in-law does not see me as a brother-in-law—all this is the fault of the state of Qin!"
From then on, he delved deeper into his studies with renewed determination, vowing to make the rulers of the world offer gold and silver treasures and vacate the position of prime minister to recruit him.
A year later, he grew confident he could persuade any ruler in the land, convinced that a brilliant future lay ahead.
Su Qin then went to see the King of Zhao. After hearing Su Qin's analysis of the political situation, the king found it highly reasonable and immediately appointed him Lord of Wu'an, granting him the chancellor's seal and countless imperial treasures. From that moment, Su Qin embarked on his awe-inspiring political career that would astonish future generations.
Later, the idiom "Feathers Not Yet Full" came to be used as a metaphor for limited power or shallow knowledge and experience.
Source: *Strategies of the Warring States*, "Strategies of Qin"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "羽毛未丰" came to describe limited power or shallow knowledge and experience.