To ride the winds and cleave waves
Refers to someone with great ambition, or someone who takes action without fear of hardship. Also indicates that things develop very rapidly
Positive
None
长风破浪 (cháng fēng pò làng)
林邑 (Lín Yì) was a country located in modern-day Vietnam. It should be noted that the name 林邑 was used earlier on in Chinese history, and that the country was later referred to as 环王 (Huán Wáng) and then 占城 (Zhàn Chéng). In English, this country is referred to as Champa.
《宋书》(Sòng Shū), a work by Northern and Southern Dynasties (南北朝, 420 - 589) period minister and scholar 沈约 (Shěn Yuē). The work of 100 scrolls details the history of the Southern Dynasties Sòng Dynasty (宋, 420 - 479).
Note: This 宋 dynasty is probably not the 宋 dynasty that you're thinking of. That 宋 dynasty came several hundred years later, from 960 - 1279.
During the Southern and Northern Dynasties (南北朝 | nán běi cháo | 420 - 589), there lived a man named 宗悫 (Zōng Què). Even as a child, 宗悫 was brave and excelled at martial arts, and he was highly ambitious as well.
One day, his father's younger brother (叔父 | shū fù) asked him what his aspirations were. 宗悫 replied that he would "ride winds and cleave waves," meaning that he would break through all barriers to achieve his goals.
Later, 宗悫 became a skilled general, leading his troops to victory when the country of 林邑 (Lín Yì) invaded their borders.