cautionary tales, chinese culture, fortune, life lessons, personal growth

Beware the Illusions of Fortune: Ancient Chinese Wisdom on Premature Celebrations

Life is indeed full of unexpected twists and delightful surprises. Yet, in the fabric of fortune, ancient Chinese wisdom cautions against early celebrations in times of apparent joy. Millennials are well-accustomed to seeking continual happiness and evading misfortune, aspiring for an uninterrupted streak of good fortune. However, vintage insights suggest a more restrained approach, especially ...

Max Lu

Church decorated with flowers for a wedding.

How Can You Tell if a Person Has Blessings?

Everyone hopes to have blessings in their life, not to have to worry about food and clothing, and also to be able to help people in need. But some people have a charmed life, while others have a tough one. Some people may stumble when they are young, but turn their lives around when they ...

Tatiana Denning

Blessings.

The Ripple Effect of Kindness: A Tale of Good Deeds Bringing Good Fortune

Here is a tale about the fortune that comes from doing good deeds. It is said that Heaven wouldn’t allow such a kind person to live less than 100 years. During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a scholar who embarked on a journey to the capital to take the imperial examination. ...

Max Lu

Illustration of an elegant white Japanese crane flying in front of cherry blossom trees.

The Cultural Significance of Chinese Numbers and Their Combinations

Numbers hold a significant place in Chinese culture, as they are believed to represent different aspects of life, including fortune, harmony, and love. Numbers can be taken as either a good omen or a bad sign, but there is no denying the distinction between the two.  Here, we will explore the significance of the lucky ...

Viena Abdon

Lucky number 8 on the background of wooden keg lotto pieces.

Elderly Man Tricked a Rich Boy Into Losing His Fortune

Born into a respected family with wealth, riches, and good fortune, you would imagine that that is a great start in life. There was once a rich boy who indulged excessively in drinking and gambling until he lost all his wealth and inheritance, and was driven to desperation. At the time of his despair, an elderly ...

Michael Segarty

Gold ingots.

What the Chinese Character 福 Fú Can Teach About One’s Mindset

The Chinese character fú ( 福) is traditionally seen as a good omen in China, especially around the New Year. Sometimes, people will hang up signs, paper cuts, or embroideries carrying the character fú on them in different places. You’ll find fú in stores, in windows, or dangling from the rearview mirrors of cars. Fú translated into English ...

Hermann Rohr

Two fish surrounding the Chinese character fú.