茅

surname Mao

reeds / rushes

spear / lance / pike

grass radical 草字頭兒|草字头儿[cao3 zi4 tou2 r5]

to rank among the best

venturing from one's thatched hut for the first time (idiom) / young and inexperienced / novice / greenhorn

Bournemouth, UK

lit. three humble visits to a thatched cottage / cf famous episode in the fictional Romance of Three Kingdoms 三國演義|三国演义 in which Liu Bei 劉備|刘备 recruits Zhuge Liang 諸葛亮|诸葛亮 (the Hidden Dragon 臥龍|卧龙) to his cause by visiting him three times

forward patrol (military) (old) / (fig.) the top ranks

lit. earthen steps and a thatched hut / frugal living conditions (idiom)

thatched roof

golden eye-grass (Curculigo orchioides) / Curculigo rhizome (used in TCM)

bundled thatch

lit. to occupy a latrine but not shit (proverb) / fig. to be a dog in the manger

lit. earthen steps and a small cottage / frugal living conditions (idiom)