25:
515:
505:
Through the introductory and concluding sentences it is made clear that the parable shows only a small part of an infinite sequence: before the loss of the horse there were other lucky/unlucky situations and after fending off the barbarians, there will be others. E.g. the farmer can't use his injured
777:
While in the original version the son loses his horse and the father comments, in recent (Western) versions a more direct view is found: The father himself is the horse's owner and directly comments on his situation. Most of these versions are longer and dramatically embellished, but the brevity and
501:
The wisdom in the parable does not come from a teacher, a monk or a king, and it is not discussed at length. It comes from a simple, old man who shows this wisdom in very short sentences - repetitions, since there is nothing to add. This indicates that the knowledge of Dào is accessible to everyone.
460:, whether in the smallest details or in the great events of life. But since in the framework of human perception it is impossible to recognize the future consequences of an event (and thus to know what is really 'good luck' or 'bad luck'), the old man's reaction to these events is a
426:
The parable tells the story of a farmer who lives with his father close to the border with the barbarian territories. Without his fault and without being able to influence them, the farmer goes through various situations which all have important consequences for him:
1197:
440:
When the barbarians attack the borderland, the injured farmer is not drafted and does not have to join the battle to help with the defense - whereby he and his father survive and escape death.
444:
These events are spontaneously judged by the neighbors, but the farmer's old father relativizes these judgments of the situations with his knowledge of Dào (i.e.
758:
Starting from the original parable, different versions of the story have been written, which are described in books and on the internet under titles such as
1205:
150:
the parable was modified and is frequently used in philosophical or religious texts or in books dealing with management or psychological strategies.
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After weeks, his horse finds its way back and brings along other horses from the barbarian territories, thus increasing the farmer's property.
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features the story during the celebration of news of the Soviet withdrawal from
Afghanistan, near the end of the film. CIA agent
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810:(2003), to describe the difference in the processing of misfortune and strokes of fate in 'lucky devils' and 'unlucky fellows'.
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90:'The old man of the frontier lost his horse', 'how could he know if this is not fortuitous?'), also known as
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Trying to ride one of the wild horses, the farmer falls and breaks his leg - which reduces his physical capacities.
132:
1251:
35:
774:, etc. The story is mostly cited in philosophical or religious texts and management or psychology advisors.
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136:
866:, which aired on January 24, 1994, Marilyn Whirlwind shared a variant of this story with Ed Chigliak.
532:
Misery is what happiness rests upon. Happiness is what misery lurks beneath. Who knows where it ends?
140:
904:" features a retelling of the story that is referred back to several times throughout the episode.
1169:
120:; 'In the World of Man') dating to the 2nd century B.C. The story exemplifies the view of
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498:. In this knowledge he finds his calm and lasting, true happiness: he accepts life as it is.
1221:
1099:
Wellsbaum.blog: "Alan Watts: The Story of the
Chinese Farmer", with reference to Alan Watts
901:
823:
750:
In most of these proverbs, the hopeful perspective points 'in the direction of good luck'.
884:
803:
842:
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leg properly and will depend on his old father to help and support him – and so on.
523:
449:
494:; i.e. 'not intervening', 'not acting') but this term should not be confused with
1142:
1115:
715:
Western parallels – not referring to the parable – can be found in the following
457:
1216:
1210:
846:
790:
Meine
Psychose, mein Fahrrad und ich - Zur Selbstorganisation der Verrücktheit
782:
464:
1117:
Meine
Psychose, mein Fahrrad und ich: zur Selbstorganisation der Verrücktheit
785:
told this story during talks about
Eastern Wisdom and modern life (1960–1969)
537:
453:
103:
158:
The
English text is mostly based on the translation by Claude Larre et al.
891:
could be described as the culmination of seemingly lucky/unlucky events.
778:
conciseness of the original text has the advantage of a simpler insight.
461:
431:
His horse, a considerable part of his property and livelihood, runs away.
879:. A variation of parable is told by the character "La Abuela" Gordillo (
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522:
A similar sentiment to the parable is expressed in chapter 58 of the
495:
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468:
121:
565:), traditional Chinese idiomatic expressions, one finds the saying
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883:) and is a recurring theme for several subsequent episodes. The
845:
shares the story as a cautionary tale, while ascribing it to a "
827:
125:
936:
Claude Larre, Isabelle
Robinet, Elisabeth Rochet de la Vallée:
582:
The old man lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best.
74:
The old man lost his horse (but it all turned out for the best)
792:(1990), a basic introductory and instructional text on modern
18:
1211:
Video: Donna
Quesada's lecture on daoism (The Daoist Farmer)
1171:
The World of the
Swahili: An African Mercantile Civilization
98:
are some of the many titles given to one of the most famous
213:
For no reason, his horse ran off into barbarian territory.
731:
Every ill-luck is good for something in a wise man's hand.
96:
Bad luck brings good luck, and good luck brings bad luck
1101:
Eastern Wisdom, Modern Life: Collected Talks: 1960-1969
1024:
Insup Taylor, M. Martin Taylor, Maurice Martin Taylor:
746:
Nothing is so bad in which there is not something good.
256:
his horse came back with a group of barbarian horses.
42:
1144:
The Luck Factor: Change Your Luck and Change Your Life
510:
Potential origin, chengyu, proverbs, and delimitations
1026:
Writing and
Literacy in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese
536:
The first known version of the story is found in the
352:
Adult men strung up their bows and went into battle.
968:
This parable does not have a title in the Huainanzi.
467:, and thus the appropriate reaction. He reacts with
993:
991:
952:. NS 75); translation of chapters 1, 7, 11, 13, 18.
869:The story is used as a framing device for much of
171:"Old Man of the Frontier Loses Horse" (English)
143:" in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese.
998:Gerda Wielander; Derek Hird (1 November 2018).
588:How could one know that it is not good fortune?
328:"Who knows if that won't bring you good luck?"
240:"Who knows if that won't bring you good luck?"
369:except for the son because of his broken leg.
360:Nine out of ten border residents were killed,
280:"Who knows if that won't bring you bad luck?"
709:人間万事塞翁が馬 (Ningen/Jinkan Banji Sai Ou Ga Uma)
618:The old man on the frontier lost (his) horse
377:Father and son were protected/both survived.
191:and it is difficult to foresee their change.
135:and is often invoked to express the idea of "
8:
788:Fritz B. Simon tells this story in his book
680:how to know (if this is) fortuitous or not?
678:The old man on the frontier lost (his) horse
110:; 'Master of Huainan'), chapter 18 (
1028:. John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1995,
1004:. Hong Kong University Press. p. 192.
296:and the son mounted with joy/loved riding.
85:
806:used a variation of the story in his book
675:塞翁失馬 焉知非福 (Sài Wēng Shī Mǎ Yān Zhī Fēi Fú)
344:the barbarians invaded across the border.
743:It is an ill wind that blows no one good.
701:the horse of the old man on the frontier
639:The horse of the old man on the frontier
183:Good luck and bad luck create each other
61:Learn how and when to remove this message
657:
597:
530:from the 6th to 4th century BC, namely,
164:
961:
696:인간만사 새옹지마 (In Gan Man Sa Sae Ong Ji Ma)
205:A righteous man lived near the border.
166:
131:The story is well-known throughout the
813:Coral Chen wrote and illustrated the
740:No great loss without some small gain
540:, which was compiled around 139 BCE.
7:
1174:. Yale University Press. p. 1.
1072:Emanuel Strauss (12 November 2012).
1217:Video explaining the Chinese saying
1206:Wiktionary with English translation
1048:Wisdom Tales from Around the World
688:Tái ông thất mã, yên tri phi phúc
128:") and "misfortune" ("bad luck").
14:
983:Principles in the World of Humans
768:The Father, His Son and the Horse
448:): Everything is an interplay of
391:Hence: Bad luck brings good luck
938:Les grands traités du Huainan zi
913:Charles Le Blanc, Mathieu Rémi:
728:Every cloud has a silver lining.
725:Bad luck often brings good luck.
288:Now his house is rich in horses
160:Les grands traités du Huainan zi
23:
1075:Dictionary of European Proverbs
1001:Chinese Discourses on Happiness
578:Sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú
399:and good luck brings bad luck.
92:Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?
1168:John Middleton (August 1994).
820:(2011) in English and Chinese.
818:The Old Man Who Lost His Horse
734:Every medal has its dark side.
573:
561:
552:
490:
476:
312:Everyone felt sorry for him.
224:Everyone felt sorry for him.
116:
111:
81:
32:This article needs editing to
1:
1051:. august house. p. 142.
264:Everyone congratulated him.
1078:. Routledge. pp. 49 f.
699:Everything in life (is like)
415:and nobody can estimate it.
304:He fell and broke his leg.
124:regarding "fortune" ("good
1273:
1103:, New World Library (2006)
931:Bibliothèque de la Pléiade
452:, of light and shadow, of
133:East Asian cultural sphere
1247:Chinese words and phrases
921:. Gallimard, Paris 2003,
826:used this subject in the
772:The Old Man Loses a Horse
698:
677:
638:
617:
407:This happens without end
107:
1141:Richard Wiseman (2003).
979:Teachings Concerning Man
887:in the season 4 episode
764:The Farmer and his Horse
518:Stone sculpture of Laozi
34:comply with Knowledge's
1114:Fritz B. Simon (2004).
1045:Heather Forest (1996).
940:. du Cerf, Paris 1993,
873:of the television show
858:In 14th episode of the
798:radical constructionism
737:Every tide has its ebb.
16:Ancient Chinese proverb
722:A blessing in disguise
615:塞翁失馬 (Sài Wēng Shī Mǎ)
519:
1198:Original text in the
950:Variétés sinologiques
876:The Last Man On Earth
647:塞翁が馬 (Sai Ou Ga Uma)
517:
248:Several months later
1200:Chinese Text Project
1120:. Carl-Auer-Verlag.
915:Philosophes taoïstes
838:Charlie Wilson's War
636:새옹지마 (Sae Ong Ji Ma)
628:2. Tái ông mất ngựa
162:, 1993, p. 208–209.
141:blessing in disguise
831:Chinesische Legende
626:1. Tái ông thất mã
320:His father spoke :
272:His father spoke :
232:His father spoke :
43:improve the content
854:In popular culture
520:
422:Plot and statement
148:Western literature
1237:Taoist philosophy
1181:978-0-300-06080-5
1154:978-0-7126-2388-9
1127:978-3-89670-461-0
1085:978-1-134-86460-7
1058:978-0-87483-479-6
1011:978-988-8455-72-0
864:Northern Exposure
760:The Taoist Farmer
713:
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651:
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1252:Chinese proverbs
1222:Nachum Ish Gamzu
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1147:. Random House.
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808:The Luck Factor
804:Richard Wiseman
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586:The meaning is
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336:One year later
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917:. Volume 2:
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220:(also 人皆弔之.)
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41:Please help
33:
977:Literally,
871:season four
458:unhappiness
277:„此何遽不能為禍乎?“
178:(also 夫禍福之)
154:Translation
51:August 2024
1231:Categories
1213:(englisch)
957:References
919:Huainan Zi
908:Literature
847:Zen master
783:Alan Watts
685:Vietnamese
623:Vietnamese
574:塞翁失馬，焉知非福.
465:equanimity
357:近塞之人，死者十九,
325:„此何遽不為福乎?“
237:„此何遽不為福乎?“
202:近塞上之人有善術者.
117:Rénjiānxùn
900:episode "
754:Reception
538:Huainanzi
454:happiness
253:其馬將胡駿馬而歸.
104:Huainanzi
102:from the
82:塞翁失馬，焉知非福
1257:Parables
902:The Sign
717:proverbs
706:Japanese
661:Language
644:Japanese
601:Language
349:丁壯者引弦而戰,
210:馬無故亡而入胡.
100:parables
1030:S. 69 (
933:. 494).
833:(1983).
672:Chinese
612:Chinese
570:Chinese
562:chéngyǔ
549:Chinese
545:chengyu
473:Chinese
365:此獨以跛之故.
78:Chinese
1178:
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1008:
944:
925:
693:Korean
633:Korean
572::
559::
557:pinyin
551::
543:Among
496:apathy
491:wú wéi
488::
486:pinyin
475::
469:wu wei
412:深不可測也.
388:故福之為禍,
341:胡人大入塞,
301:墮而折其髀.
188:其變難見也.
139:" or "
122:Taoism
80::
897:Bluey
664:Idiom
604:Idiom
528:Laozi
462:stoic
404:化不可極,
396:禍之為福.
374:父子相保.
309:人皆吊之.
293:其子好騎,
285:家富良馬,
261:人皆賀之.
218:人皆吊之.
180:轉而相生,
176:夫禍富之
1176:ISBN
1149:ISBN
1122:ISBN
1080:ISBN
1053:ISBN
1006:ISBN
942:ISBN
923:ISBN
894:The
828:poem
796:and
456:and
333:居一年,
317:其父曰:
269:其父曰:
245:居數月,
229:其父曰:
126:luck
87:lit.
981:or
862:of
526:by
146:In
112:人間訓
108:淮南子
94:or
1233::
990:^
849:".
770:,
766:,
762:,
555:;
553:成語
484:;
114:;
84:;
1184:.
1157:.
1130:.
1088:.
1061:.
1034:)
1014:.
985:.
948:(
929:(
800:.
547:(
481:爲
478:無
471:(
106:(
76:(
64:)
58:(
53:)
49:(
45:.
38:.
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