Transformations in Nature: Reflections on Fate and Fortune
In ancient China, the symbolism of the owl, also known as the “gu ji,” holds significant cultural meaning. Originating from the Chu region, it was referred to as “fu,” believed to be black in color and vocal in its calls. This bird’s appearance prompted philosophical musings, particularly during Jia Sheng’s contemplative period while residing in Changsha, a place he found damp and lowly, harboring a sense of impermanence. To express his emotions, he composed verses that reflected on life’s expansive nature.
The verses state, “In the year of Dan’e, under the sun of Gengzi, I gathered at my dwelling, perching in a corner, my appearance leisurely. Strange things gathered around me, and I privately wondered about their reasons, consulting ancient texts and divinations to ascertain their meanings.”
“Wild birds enter one’s abode, and the owner is about to depart,” I asked Fu, “Where shall I go? Will fortune tell me, or will misfortune predict my adversity? Deliberating the measure of time, speak to me of its course.”
Fu sighed deeply, lifting his head and spreading its wings, unable to speak, asking me to understand its intention. “All things change incessantly, never resting. The flow revolves and shifts, sometimes pushing forward, other times retreating. Forms and energies transform continuously, evolving and renewing like the molting of cicadas.”
“Profound and infinite, how can one speak of such things? Misfortune leans on good fortune, and good fortune hides behind misfortune. Sorrow and joy converge at one’s doorstep, where good and bad fortunes reside together.”
During those times, the powerful Wu state, led by King Fu Chai, faced defeat; meanwhile, King Gou Jian of Yue rose to power in Kuaiji. Such movements and outcomes became inevitable, culminating in Fu’s own execution. Adviser Fu was indeed condemned alongside military strategist Su Qin.
The concepts of fortune and misfortune entwined like threads in a tapestry, impossible to separate. Destiny remains inscrutable; who can fathom its extremities? Just as water, when agitated, causes drought, and arrows, when fired, travel far.
“All things alternate and change, swaying and transforming like clouds forming and rain falling, tangled and intricate. The grand design of creation, like a potter molding clay vessels on a great wheel, never ceases. The unity of dispersion is a testament to the absence of constancy. A thousand transformations, myriad changes, but no definitive end.”
“Suddenly becoming human, why fixate on control? Changing into something else, why lament? Limited knowledge is self-centered, valuing others above oneself; but a truly enlightened person sees the world as one.”
“The greedy pursue wealth, while heroes seek renown. Those who boast of power die seeking it, while the common people are born again. The sage rejects worldly attachments, transcending with the Way.”
“People are driven by accumulated desires, harboring likes and dislikes. The true individual remains indifferent, finding solace in the Way.”
This essay reflects the philosophical underpinnings and symbolic language prevalent in ancient Chinese texts, exploring themes of transformation, fate, and the dual nature of fortune.