Gain and lose(dé mǎ shī mǎ)

a loss may turn out to be a gain

It is a Chinese idiom with the pronunciation s à IW à ngsh à m à, which means that although one suffers a loss for a while, one may get a benefit instead. It also means that bad things can be turned into good things under certain conditions. From the collection of Huainan Honglie.

Original story

Those who are close to the frontier (1) have good skills (2), and the horse died without reason (3) and entered the Hu. All people are worried about (4), and his father said, "why is this sudden (5) not a blessing?" After several months in (6), Hu Junma, the general of his horse, returned. Everyone congratulated him. His father said, "why can't it be (8)?" Rich family (9) good horse, its son good (10) riding, fall (11) and fold its leg (12). All the people were worried about it, and his father said, "why is this not a blessing?" After one year's residence, Hu Da Ren (13) entered the frontier, while Ding Zhuang led Xian (14) to fight. The dead are 19 (16). Because of lameness (17), father and son protect each other (18). Therefore, fortune is misfortune, and misfortune is blessing. The transformation (19) is not extreme, and (20) is unfathomable.

explain

translation

There is a person who is good at guessing good or bad luck and mastering the number of skills, living near the border. Once, his horse ran to Hu people's residence for no reason. People came to comfort him. But the old man said, "why is this not a blessing?" After a few months, the lost horse came back with many of Hu people's good foals. People came to congratulate him. The old man said, "why is this not a disaster?" There are many good horses in the fortune teller's family. His son loves riding, so he fell off the horse and broke his leg. People came to him. The old man said, "why is this not a good thing?" After a year, the Hu people invaded the frontier fortress, and the strong men were recruited to fight. Many people died near the frontier fortress. Only Saiweng's son was spared the battle because of his lameness, and the father and son saved their lives together.

Basic explanation

Sai: the border is dangerous; Weng: old man. It is a metaphor that although we suffer losses for a while, we may get benefits for it. It also means that bad things can be turned into good things under certain conditions.

explicate

1. [explanation]: Sai: the border is dangerous; Weng: the old man. It is a metaphor that although we suffer losses for a while, we may get benefits for it. It also means that bad things can be turned into good things under certain conditions. 2. [from]: "Huainanzi · human training": "those who are close to the fortress have good skills, the horse died and entered Hu without reason. Everyone is worried about it. His father said, "why is this not a blessing?" After several months, Hu Junma, his general, returned. Everyone congratulates it Therefore, happiness is a disaster, and disaster is a blessing. It can't be changed into extreme and unfathomable. " 3. [example]: it's a pity that a scholar has an ambition and fails, but "An Zhi is not a blessing". Chapter 7 of Jing Hua Yuan by Li Ruzhen in Qing Dynasty

word

(1) The Great Wall. Frontier fortress, frontier fortress. (2) skillful person: one who is proficient in the number of skills. Good: good at it. Magic, such as physiognomy, divination, fortune telling, etc. (3) Hu: refers to the place where the Hu people live. (4) Death: escape. (5) condole: comfort his misfortune. (6) He Ji (J ù): how is it. (7) Ju: over. Before the word time, it refers to the time that has passed. (8) will: lead. (9) yes. (10) Fu: a lot. (11) good: I like it. (12) fall: fall. (13) thigh (B ì): thighbone. (14) big: big. (15) Xi á n: take up arms. (15) near Sai: near the border of the Great Wall. (17) Nineteen: nine tenths; the vast majority. (18) lame: noun, refers to the bad legs, walking out of balance, a limp; lame. (19) protection: preservation (20) transformation: change (21) extreme: exhaustion

Idiom story

Among the people living near the border, there was a man who was proficient in mathematics. Their horse ran to the Hu people's residence for no reason. People came to him. The old man said, "why can't this be a good thing?" After a few months, the horse came back with Hu people's good horse. People came to congratulate their family. The old man said, "why can't this be a bad thing?" There are many good horses in his family. His son likes to ride a horse. As a result, he fell off the horse and broke his thigh. People came to comfort their family. The old man said, "why can't this be a good thing?" After a year, the Hu people invaded the border area on a large scale, and the young men all took up bows and arrows to fight. Most of the people near the border are dead. Only this man was spared the war because of his lameness, and his father and son were able to save their lives.

Story appreciation

"A blessing in disguise" is a dramatic story through a cycle, which expounds the unity of opposites between disaster and happiness, and reveals the truth that "disaster lies on happiness, and happiness lies on disaster". From a philosophical point of view, this fable inspires people to look at problems dialectically from the perspective of development: in adversity, we should not be depressed, and we should establish the optimistic belief of "hidden flowers"; in prosperity, we should not be intoxicated, and we should maintain the sense of suffering of "dying in peace". under certain conditions, good things and bad things can be exchanged. Bad things can become good things, and good things can become bad things. The story of "a blessing in disguise" has been popular among the people for thousands of years. No matter in the face of fortune or misfortune, we should adjust our mentality, observe problems beyond time and space, and consider the possible extreme changes of things.

Character controversy

"Saiweng" and "skillful person" should refer to one person. "His father" should not be interpreted as "his father", but as "the old man", that is, Saiweng.

About the author

Liu An (179-122 BC), the royal family of the Western Han Dynasty, was the king of Huainan. He is the grandson of Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, and the son of Liu Chang, King li of Huainan. Li Sao Ti, written by a thinker and writer in the Western Han Dynasty at the order of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, is the earliest work in China that highly praised Qu Yuan and his Li Sao. He once recruited thousands of guests to write Honglie, also known as Huainanzi.

Chinese PinYin : dé mǎ shī mǎ