Source: "Ode to the Broken Kiln" written by Lü Mengzheng, a minister of the Northern Song Dynasty
Original text: There are unforeseen circumstances in the sky, and misfortunes and fortunes for people. A centipede with hundreds of legs cannot fly as fast as a snake; a rooster with two wings cannot fly as fast as a crow. A horse has a journey of a thousand miles, and it cannot go there without a rider; a man has aspirations to reach the sky, but he cannot go there without luck.
Translation: Weather changes are difficult to predict, and people's fate sooner or later is difficult to predict. Although a centipede has hundreds of legs, it cannot crawl as fast as a snake. Domestic chickens have large wings, but they cannot fly like birds. A good horse can gallop thousands of miles, but it cannot go back and forth without a driver. Everyone has lofty ambitions, but only if they have the opportunity can they become successful.
A person's fame and wealth are a combination of time, destiny, and luck, rather than relying solely on one's own personal ability. Of course, hard work is also extremely important, but it is not decisive. Feng shui rotates, and any wealth or poverty is not fixed, but temporary and flowing. You can make a fortune and succeed today, but you may go bankrupt and fail at any time tomorrow. This is what the saying goes that the three poor and the three rich never grow old.
Therefore, a person should not get carried away when he is proud, nor should he give up when he is frustrated, but should face life with a positive and brave attitude, and create more good causes for more good results in the future. .
Extended information:
Lü Mengzheng was born in poverty and deeply understood the suffering of the poor, so he studied diligently, worked diligently, and loved the people diligently. When he was young, he once studied in Poyao with Kou Zhun, and experienced the warmth and warmth of the world. Later, when he became prime minister, he realized the favor and disgrace of people's hearts. So he wrote a section of "Ode to the Broken Kiln".
"Broken Kiln Fu" is part of Lu Mengzheng's "Encouraging the World", also known as "Han Kiln Fu". Due to the deep influence of traditional views, some people think that Lu Mengzheng's thoughts are too conservative and negative. Therefore, many of Lu Mengzheng's articles and classics have been lost. In the "Biography of Lv Wenmu Gong", this "Breaking Kiln Fu" is regarded as Lv Mengzheng's work. A classic. According to legend, this article was originally written to educate the prince.
Lu Mengzheng served as prime minister three times and also served as the prince's teacher. At that time, the prince was young and arrogant, and no grand master dared to teach him a lesson in person. Lu Mengzheng decided to write an article to warn the prince. So he wrote "Ode to the Broken Kiln". Although "Ode to the Broken Kiln" is short in content, it contains infinite wisdom, and the prince understood the truth at once. It is said that after reading this article, the prince changed his normal behavior and often asked others for advice humbly.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Broken Kiln Fu