The Enlightenment of “Misfortune Conceals Fortune; Fortune Harbors Misfortune”

Do not cling to the surface of problems; view life from a different perspective. Then, gains and losses need not be judged immediately in the short term, as all issues conceal traps or opportunities.

In daily life, many people often measure the好坏 of things based on their personal gains and losses. Some rejoice or worry over trivial profits every day. However, since people only see the surface of things, many matters cannot be immediately determined as either fortune or misfortune.

Gaining is not necessarily a blessing, and losing is not necessarily a misfortune. Without adversity, there would be no wisdom; without effort, it is difficult to achieve harvest.

The phrase “Misfortune conceals fortune; fortune harbors misfortune” originates from the Taoist classic Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching" and later evolved into the idiom “misfortune and fortune are interdependent,” meaning that misfortune and fortune depend on each other and can transform into one another. Misfortune is the premise for fortune, while fortune contains elements of misfortune.

In other words, good and bad things can transform into each other. Under certain conditions, fortune can turn into misfortune, and misfortune can also turn into fortune.

The best example illustrating the mutual transformation between misfortune and fortune is the fable “The Old Man at the Fort,” which comes from another Taoist classic, "Huainanzi." The story tells of an old man living near the northern frontier.

One day, one of the old man’s horses broke free for no reason and ran into the land of the Hu people. His neighbors came to console him, but he remained calm and said, “Could this not be a blessing in disguise?”

A few months later, the lost horse suddenly returned, bringing with it a fine steed from the Hu people. The neighbors came to congratulate him upon hearing the news.

The old man, unperturbed, calmly said, “Could this not turn into a disaster?”

The old man kept many fine horses, and his son, who had a martial spirit, loved riding. One day, while his son was riding a spirited horse to practice archery in the wild, the horse bolted and threw him off, breaking his thigh and leaving him permanently disabled. The neighbors came to offer their condolences.

The old man, without showing emotion, said indifferently, “Could this not be a blessing?” Another year passed, and the Hu people invaded the border, launching a large-scale attack. All the able-bodied men from the surrounding villages were conscripted into the army, taking up arms to fight, with countless casualties.

Among the residents near the frontier, almost every household suffered losses, with many perishing in the war. Only the old man’s son, due to his disability, was exempted from military service. Thus, both father and son survived and lived out their remaining years in peace.

Therefore, fortune may transform into misfortune, and misfortune may change into fortune. This transformation is profound and unpredictable, beyond anyone’s expectations.

As Lu You wrote in his poem, “Beyond the mountains and rivers, doubt there is no path; amid the willows and flowers, another village appears.” When achieving success, there is no need to be overly proud; when facing difficulties and setbacks, one should not lose heart.

After failure, an optimistic and open-minded person will not blame others but will instead use the opportunity to rest and recuperate, calmly reflect on life, and summarize experiences. When embarking on life’s journey again, new opportunities will arise.

Even in the worst situations, one should recognize that life is full of unexpected opportunities. By facing setbacks with composure and persevering unyieldingly, one will surely reach the bright shore.