人間万事塞翁が馬

Reading
にんげんばんじさいおうがうま
English
Joy and sorrow and today and tomorrow What will be, will be
Notes
The many万 affairs事 of humans人間 are like the story involving an [old man>翁 living at a fort塞 in Northern China and his horse馬. One day, the horse runs away, but then it returns some time later with a second horse of great strength and speed. However, the man's son rides the new horse and falls off and breaks his leg. Then, when the man's territory is invaded, many young men are called to serve and die in battle. However, since his son suffers from a broken leg, he is not required to fight and ends up living a long life.
Origin
古代
proverbsKotoKen 3