"Destiny" (天命)
29 X 22 cm
Click to Enlarge. Collected, no longer in inventory.
"Destiny" (天命)
29 X 22 cm in Cursive Script (草書)
Historical Information and Interpretation
"天命" here refers to destiny or fate bestowed upon by God or other supreme beings. It is something humans have no control over and is used in ancient China as a means to legitimize the rule of a monarchy(1). In today's context, however, it is more common to interpret it as "an inevitable fate that one cannot change".
Personal Comments
"You can control your destiny" or "Your fate is in your hands" are two phrases that are used often in motivational speeches or books. How arrogant! One should know there is always a limit and hence something that is destined to fail no matter how hard one tries. As such, knowing one’s limit and finding one’s destiny are two main goals in one’s life.
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