The Horse of the Old Man
In the world of man everything is the horse of the old fortress-city man, is a Japanese saying originated in an episode, recorded on the Huainanzi, a Chinese book of essays, edited before 139 BC. People feel sorry for the old man when his horse has run away to a neighboring country over the border, but he says that it will bring happiness. The horse, some time later, comes back to him with an excellent horse. People celebrate it, but he says that it will bring unhappiness. When his son goes to ride on it, he falls down off the horse, breaking his leg. People feel sorry, but he says that it will bring his family happiness. His prophecy comes true. The war breaks out soon, but his son is not drafted into the army because of his broken leg. Most of the drafted soldiers are killed in the war. The concept of this episode might show that you can’t have the power to see through your future, as long as you have the near-sighted vision only. A Today’s Chinese form is below.
The old fortress-city man, who has lost his horse, is sure that it is good luck.