I love Chinese proverbs called 成語 chéngyǔ.
They're an important aspect of Chinese culture and language.
They are beautiful, elegant and subtle.
They’re the reason why I've started with Chinese kaishu calligraphy in the first place.
What makes them extraordinary is that so much is communicated in so few characters.
Think about it.
They commonly consist of four words that sum up a well-known story from ancient China, the moral of which is meant to provide guidance in everyday life.
Is it really possible to pack the whole story into just four words?
If you’re super-efficient, you can do it.
For example, look at the first chéngyǔ I learned many years ago.
瓜田李下.
I know, you're staring in disbelief at your screen and wondering what's going on.
Let me help you here.
The four traditional Chinese characters are (in case you don’t know) “melon", “field", "plum tree” and “under".
It doesn't make any sense, I know.
Just stick with me for a while.
The meaning of the proverb is almost impossible to guess if you don't know the context from which it was born.
Yes, you need the background story.
And yes, there’s a story behind every character.
Hence, learning Chinese is about storytelling.
In this case, there’s an old Chinese poem that includes lines, "Don't put on your shoe in a melon field and don’t adjust your hat under the plum trees."
You see, if you tie your shoe in a melon field, from a distance, people might mistake you for a thief stealing melons and if you adjust your hat under a plum tree, well, others might believe you're stealing plums from the tree.
Now it makes sense, right?
The idiom 瓜田李下 warns you to avoid situations where, however innocent, you might be suspected of doing wrong.
This brings us to my favourite chéngyǔ, called 塞翁失馬.
Ok, here’s how to read the four characters - Sāi Wēng Shī Mǎ.
It means: Sai Weng lost his horse.
The story behind goes something like this.
"Sāi Wēng lived on the border. One day, his horse ran away into the barbarian territory and so his neighbors felt sorry for him. "Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!”. The farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see." Several months later, the horse returned home with a group of beautiful barbarian horses. The neighbors shouted out, “Your horse has returned, congratulation, what great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” Later that week, the farmer’s son went out for a ride with the new horse and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, “Your son broke his leg, that must be dreadful for you.” "He can' help you with your farming,” they said. “What terrible luck you have!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” One year later, the Emperor’s army marched throught the the village, recruiting all able-bodied men to fight in the war. Because of his injury, Sāi Wēng’s son could not go off to war, and was spared from certain death. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “Such great news. You must be so happy!” The man smiled to himself and said once again: “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
This story is a great reminder. What is good news and what is bad news anyway? Isn’t it just all a matter of perception? Have you ever looked back on your life and realized that what you thought was the most awful situation or circumstance in your past has actually ended up being a complete blessing now? Anytime you encounter some misfortune, just go: "Sāi Wēng Shī Mǎ." Zoom video not working? "Sāi Wēng Shī Mǎ." Lost a client? Sāi Wēng Shī Mǎ. Messed up the presentation? Sāi Wēng Shī Mǎ. Got in charge of a dead-end project? Sāi Wēng Shī Mǎ. You get the idea. So, I wonder, did the story of Sāi Wēng make you think differently about your life? Maybe so, maybe not. You’ll see. Until next time.
PS. Like what you’re reading here? Well, you have three choices really.
1. Get more stories straight to your inbox. Subscribe in the page footer below.
3. When you are ready to level up, hire me.