Chinese Idiom: 歧路亡羊 (Qi Lu Wang Yang)
English Translation: The lost sheep at the fork in the road
pīn yīn: qí lù wáng yáng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom signifies that one must have a clear direction when seeking the truth; otherwise, one risks going astray. It also refers to the complexity and variability of matters, where failing to discern the correct path may lead to misdirection.
Historical Source: From Liezi: Shuo Fu (《列子 ·说符》).
Idiom Story:
In the early Warring States period, there was a philosopher named Yang Zhu (扬朱) from the State of Wei, also known as Yangzi. One day, his neighbor lost a sheep, prompting neighbors and friends to join the search. Upon hearing about this, Yangzi remarked in confusion, “Why does it take so many people to look for one lost sheep?” The neighbor explained, “It’s because there are too many forks in the road.”
After a while, everyone returned empty-handed, and Yangzi became even more perplexed, asking, “How can so many people fail to find one sheep?” The neighbor replied, “Among all the forks in the road, there are even more forks, and we don’t know which path to take to find it, so we had to come back.”
Upon hearing this, Yangzi frowned deeply and spent the entire day in a gloomy mood. The loss of the sheep led him to reflect on the nature of learning. He realized that just as the sheep could easily get lost due to the many forks in the road, learners must make clear judgments amidst the complex and changing nature of knowledge. Without a specific direction, one risks wandering into confusion and ultimately gaining nothing.
This story serves as a cautionary tale, reminding individuals to establish clear goals and pathways in their pursuits, whether in learning or in life, to avoid the pitfalls of misdirection.