Home / Chinese Wisdom Cards / 祸兮福所倚,福兮祸所伏
Wisdom Deep

祸兮福所倚,福兮祸所伏

huò xī fú suǒ yǐ, fú xī huò suǒ fú
Misfortune leans on fortune; fortune hides misfortune.

Misfortune ah, fortune relies on; fortune ah, misfortune hides within.

Good and bad luck are intertwined — what seems like a disast...

Good and bad luck are intertwined — what seems like a disaster may lead to a blessing, and vice versa. It is a philosophical reminder that life's ups and downs are connected and unpredictable.

This saying comes from the Daoist classic Tao Te Ching (Laozi). It embodies the Daoist principle of yin-yang — opposites are not absolute but transform into each other.

Someone might say this when a person gets laid off but then finds a much better job, or when someone wins the lottery but then faces family disputes over money.

It cultivates equanimity — neither despair in bad times nor arrogance in good times. It is a deeply philosophical saying that encourages a long-term perspective on events.

#wisdom #karma #hard-times

Discover More Chinese Sayings

Draw random cards from hundreds of real Chinese folk sayings and proverbs. Each flip reveals what Chinese people actually mean.

🎴 Play Chinese Wisdom Cards