This story-based idiom means that a seeming misfortune might actually be a blessing in disguise. It's a more literary and philosophical version of '因祸得福', encouraging a long-term perspective on events.
This comes from a famous Taoist parable about an old man at the border who lost his horse, only for it to return with a wild horse, which then led to his son's injury, which then saved his son from being drafted into a war. It illustrates the Taoist principle of the fluidity and unpredictability of fortune.
This saying is used to cultivate a sense of detachment and equanimity. It signals a deep, philosophical acceptance of life's uncertainties and encourages people not to be overly elated by good fortune or overly distressed by bad luck.
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