This classic Taoist fable illustrates the cyclical and unpredictable nature of fortune. The story is told through the perspective of a wise old man living near the Great Wall of China. He maintains a calm and accepting attitude toward life, consistently responding to events with the philosophical question, "Who can say?"
The narrative follows a series of seemingly good and bad events, showing how one often leads to the other in unexpected ways.
The First Misfortune (Bad into Good): The story begins when the old man’s highly valuable horse runs away, and the villagers console him on his bad luck. The old man simply asks, "Who can say?" Later, the horse returns, bringing along a second magnificent wild stallion, and the neighbors congratulate him on his good fortune.
The Second Misfortune (Good into Bad): The new stallion needs to be broken in, and the old man's son takes on the task. The spirited horse throws him, and he breaks his leg, leaving him lame. The villagers lament this terrible accident, but the old man, once again, asks, "Who can say?"
The Final Fortune (Bad into Good): Two weeks later, war breaks out. The recruitment sergeant comes to the village and conscripts all the young, able-bodied men to fight, but the old man's son is spared because of his broken leg. The villagers are now envious of his "good luck," and the old man concludes with his enduring question, "Who can say what is good or bad fortune?"
No comments:
Post a Comment