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亡羊补牢 (wang2 yang2 bu3 lao2) - Never too late to fix
By Zhang Ciyun |
November 1, 2009, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
The idiom "wang2 yang2 bu3 lao2" or "mending the sheepfold after losing sheep" has been used as a piece of helpful advice in China for centuries, probably because it is often found that it's never too late to take precautions.
The phrase was first quoted by Zhuang Xin, an official at King Xiang's court in the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (476-221 BC).
The king had surrounded himself by four crafty and fawning aides who had won his deep trust. But actually none of them knew anything of, or ever cared about, government and state affairs.
One day, Zhuang, an upright and outspoken official, came to see the king and warned him that his regime was collapsing because he had trusted the wrong people with the job of governing the state.
The king, however, didn't buy his story and instead, suspected that Zhuang was jealous of his colleagues.
Failing to persuade the king to distance himself from the "evil foursome," Zhuang resigned from the court and moved to a neighboring state.
About five months later, Chu was invaded by the State of Qin and the Chu capital was seized by invaders.
Gnawed by deep regret, the king paid a visit to his former official at his residence and asked him for advice on how to recover the lost land and take back the capital.
Zhuang said: "I was once told that it's not too late to think of the hunting dogs when you see rabbits in the field; and it's not too late to mend the sheepfold after you lose a few sheep.
"As long as Your Excellency begins to trust the right people and unite the population, there's still a chance."
Following Zhuang's advice, the king was able to recover most of the lost territories in the following months.
Nearly everyone experiences some loss in their lifetime. It is almost unavoidable.
What's advisable here is to remember the wise Chinese saying of "wang2 yang2 bu3 lao2," and be prepared to mend the sheepfold after those losses occur.
The phrase was first quoted by Zhuang Xin, an official at King Xiang's court in the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (476-221 BC).
The king had surrounded himself by four crafty and fawning aides who had won his deep trust. But actually none of them knew anything of, or ever cared about, government and state affairs.
One day, Zhuang, an upright and outspoken official, came to see the king and warned him that his regime was collapsing because he had trusted the wrong people with the job of governing the state.
The king, however, didn't buy his story and instead, suspected that Zhuang was jealous of his colleagues.
Failing to persuade the king to distance himself from the "evil foursome," Zhuang resigned from the court and moved to a neighboring state.
About five months later, Chu was invaded by the State of Qin and the Chu capital was seized by invaders.
Gnawed by deep regret, the king paid a visit to his former official at his residence and asked him for advice on how to recover the lost land and take back the capital.
Zhuang said: "I was once told that it's not too late to think of the hunting dogs when you see rabbits in the field; and it's not too late to mend the sheepfold after you lose a few sheep.
"As long as Your Excellency begins to trust the right people and unite the population, there's still a chance."
Following Zhuang's advice, the king was able to recover most of the lost territories in the following months.
Nearly everyone experiences some loss in their lifetime. It is almost unavoidable.
What's advisable here is to remember the wise Chinese saying of "wang2 yang2 bu3 lao2," and be prepared to mend the sheepfold after those losses occur.
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