of China. One day, for no apparent reason, a young man's horse ran away
and was taken by nomads across the border. Everyone tried to offer
consolation for the man's ill fortune, but his father, a wise man, said,
"What makes you so sure this is not a blessing?"
Months later, his horse returned, bringing with her a magnificent
stallion. This time everyone was full of congratulations for the son's
good fortune. But now his father said, "What makes you so sure this
isn't a disaster?" Their household was made richer by this fine horse,
which the son loved to ride. but one day he fell off the horse and broke
his hip. Once again, everyone offered their consolation for his bad
luck, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this is not a blessing?"
A year later the nomads mounted an invasion across the border, and every
able-bodied man was required to take up his bow and go into battle. The
Chinese frontiersmen lost nine of every ten men. Only because the son
was lame did father and son survive to take care of each other. Blessing
turns to disaster, and disaster to blessing: The changes have no end,
nor can the mystery be fathomed."
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