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老马识途 (lao3 ma3 shi1 tu2) Trust an old horse
March 1, 2009, Sunday
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HORSES have been very helpful friends to man for aeons. They have not only provided valuable services, but passion and delight as well. In addition, they are responsible for many widely-quoted expressions and phrases in many languages.
The popular Chinese saying, lao3 ma3 shi1 tu2 or "an old horse knows the way" seems only to be describing something of the natural character of the animal.
But the story behind this expression tells how an old horse actually saved the lives of thousands of soldiers.
In 633 BC, Duke Huan of the State of Qi led a large army to invade the Guzhu Kingdom.
The invasion was successful, but it took a long time because of the great distances involved and the complex local geography. So when the Qi troops finally were able to return in triumph, it was already winter.
The biting cold of the winter had deprived the fields and hills of their vegetation and, thus, the surrounding scenery had quite changed. Very soon, the entire Qi army found itself lost in a deep valley.
Half a dozen teams of scouts were sent out to find ways home, but all failed their mission.
After a few days passed, the duke became impatient and worried they might never find their way back. So, he summoned his advisers to find a solution. The heated discussion led nowhere.
Finally, Guan Zhong, a sharp-minded and resourceful military advisor, stood up and said: "Someone told me once that old horses always know their way home.
"Why not find an old horse that had been serving the army since the very beginning of this expedition and let it play the role of our guide?"
They found just one such horse which, miraculously, led the distressed and exhausted troops out of the deep valley through a winding, bumpy path.
The story was the genesis of the popular Chinese idiom, l(r)°ío m(r)°í sh(r)(tm) t(r)°?, which today is often cited to describe people who are very experienced or those who know the ropes and have the knowledge of a veteran.
The popular Chinese saying, lao3 ma3 shi1 tu2 or "an old horse knows the way" seems only to be describing something of the natural character of the animal.
But the story behind this expression tells how an old horse actually saved the lives of thousands of soldiers.
In 633 BC, Duke Huan of the State of Qi led a large army to invade the Guzhu Kingdom.
The invasion was successful, but it took a long time because of the great distances involved and the complex local geography. So when the Qi troops finally were able to return in triumph, it was already winter.
The biting cold of the winter had deprived the fields and hills of their vegetation and, thus, the surrounding scenery had quite changed. Very soon, the entire Qi army found itself lost in a deep valley.
Half a dozen teams of scouts were sent out to find ways home, but all failed their mission.
After a few days passed, the duke became impatient and worried they might never find their way back. So, he summoned his advisers to find a solution. The heated discussion led nowhere.
Finally, Guan Zhong, a sharp-minded and resourceful military advisor, stood up and said: "Someone told me once that old horses always know their way home.
"Why not find an old horse that had been serving the army since the very beginning of this expedition and let it play the role of our guide?"
They found just one such horse which, miraculously, led the distressed and exhausted troops out of the deep valley through a winding, bumpy path.
The story was the genesis of the popular Chinese idiom, l(r)°ío m(r)°í sh(r)(tm) t(r)°?, which today is often cited to describe people who are very experienced or those who know the ropes and have the knowledge of a veteran.
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