"The ambition of a great roc" is a metaphor that draws from classical Chinese mythology, especially Zhuangzi (庄子), to express vast and soaring ambition—the kind that transcends ordinary limits.
The Origin: Zhuangzi ("庄子"), Chapter 1: Free and Easy Wandering (逍遥游)
This is where the story of Kunpeng originates.
Zhuangzi writes:
"There is a fish in the northern sea, its name is Kun. Kun is so huge, no one knows how many thousand li it stretches. When it transforms, it becomes a bird. Its name is Peng. Peng's back is like a mountain, and when it rises, its wings are like clouds across the sky."
Then he continues:
"It rises on a wind of ninety thousand li and soars into the sky. It travels to the southern sea in one burst, never stopping."
This bird starts life as a giant fish called Kun (鲲, Kūn), and then transforms into a roc (鹏, Péng). It represents something that is: Beyond ordinary scale; Capable of soaring far beyond what others can even dream of; Unstoppable once it sets its course
It is also the embodiment of boundless transformation and ambition.
In here the Author only write "great roc" (大鹏, dà péng) instead of full 'Kunpeng'.
The Peng (鹏) form — the giant bird — is what people usually remember, because it symbolizes soaring ambition and unstoppable movement. So, many texts and adaptations just call it a "great roc" or "Peng", even though it's the same being as Kunpeng.
The term "roc" comes from Persian and Arabic mythology (like in One Thousand and One Nights), but is often used in English as a rough equivalent for 鹏, since both are giant mythical birds.
"Our qilin daughter indeed possesses the ambition of a great roc."
This line praises the Crown Princess (the emperor's daughter) for having extraordinary ambition and vision, much like the roc that soars above all others. It implies she is not content with the mundane or ordinary path, but instead harbors noble, far-reaching aspirations—perhaps to reform the empire, rise above court politics, or reshape the future of the dynasty.
It's a compliment of the highest kind, especially when spoken in a historical or royal context.
The qilin (麒麟) is another auspicious creature in Chinese mythology, symbolizing virtue, wisdom, and heavenly favor.
Together with the great roc, this paints the Crown Princess as both blessed and destined for greatness—someone born under a lucky star and aiming for the heavens.
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This was plucked from My Daughter is the Empire's Lucky Charm, I forget which chapter.