Fortune & Misfortune





THE OLD MAN OF THE GREAT WALL LOST HIS HORSE

Story told in Chinese Paper Cuts (Sonorama.com)


1. Near China's northern borders lived a man well versed in the practices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got into the territory of the nortern tribes.

2. Everyone commiserated with him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.

3. After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the north.

4. Everyone congratulated him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune," said his father.

5. Since he was well-off and kept good horses his son became fond of riding and eventually broke his thigh bone falling from a horse.

6. Everyone commiserated with him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.

7. One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions. All able-bodies young men took up arms and found against the invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of men died.

8. This man's son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and so both the boy and his father survived.

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