During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the famed strategist of Shu Han, lost his father as a child and lived with his uncle. After his uncle passed away, Zhuge Liang settled in Longzhong, west of Xiangyang in Jingzhou (modern-day Hubei), where he farmed and studied.
Zhuge Liang, a man of extraordinary talent with grand ambitions to govern the state, often compared himself to the ancient political and military masters Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. Yet at the time, few understood him—only a handful of close friends like Xu Yuanzhi truly recognized his brilliance.
At that time, Liu Bei was staying in Jingzhou under the protection of Liu Biao, constantly seeking talented people to help him achieve his grand ambitions. Hearing that Sima Hui of Xiangyang was highly renowned, he went to visit him and asked for his views on the state of the world. Sima Hui replied, "How could an ordinary scholar understand the times? Those who understand the times are the true heroes—only those who grasp the current situation and the laws of development are truly outstanding figures."
Sima Hui then recommended to Liu Bei, "There are two exceptional talents here—'Crouching Dragon' and 'Young Phoenix.'" "Who are they?" Liu Bei asked eagerly. "'Crouching Dragon' is Zhuge Liang, and 'Young Phoenix' is Pang Tong."
Later, Xu Yuanzhi became Liu Bei's advisor and recommended Zhuge Liang to him. Liu Bei wanted Xu Yuanzhi to invite Zhuge Liang over, but Xu Yuanzhi said, "This man should be visited personally; he cannot be summoned. General, you should humble yourself and go to him."
Liu Bei personally traveled to Longzhong, visiting Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage three times before finally meeting him. Deeply moved by Liu Bei's sincerity, Zhuge Liang agreed to help restore the Han dynasty.
With Zhuge Liang's counsel, Liu Bei toiled for years to finally establish the Shu Han regime, securing a tripartite balance of power alongside Eastern Wu and Cao Wei.
Later, people used the idiom "A wise man knows his times" to refer to outstanding individuals who can recognize the current situation and understand the laws of development.
Source: *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, "Biography of Zhuge Liang"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "识时务者为俊杰" came to describe outstanding individuals who can recognize the current situation and understand the laws of development.