Designed by Freepik
We often hear the ancient hierarchy of life's determinants: "一命二運三風水四積陰德五讀書" – First fate, second luck, third feng shui, fourth good deeds, fifth study.
It’s a list that philosophically charts the course of a life, starting with the immovable forces and ending with the one element most within our control: self-cultivation through learning. But as I recite this list, a modern, persistent question emerges: When do we get to work?
We spend the majority of our waking lives working. It defines our schedules, our social circles, our status, and often, our self-worth. It is the engine for our livelihood and a canvas for our ambitions. Yet, in this grand, traditional schema, it seems conspicuously absent.
So, where does it belong? Perhaps work isn't a separate item on this list, but the very arena where all five elements collide.
- Our fate (命) might determine the starting point of our career—the family we are born into and the initial opportunities presented.
- Our luck (運) is that chance encounter, the unexpected promotion, or the market crash that no one foresaw.
- Our feng shui (風水) is the environment we create, both the physical office that fosters focus and the metaphorical energy of a supportive team.
- Accumulating merit (積陰德) is the integrity we bring to our dealings, the help we offer a colleague without expecting reward, building a reservoir of goodwill.
- And studying (讀書) is the undeniable foundation—the skills we hone, the knowledge we acquire, and the continuous learning that keeps us relevant.
Work, then, is not number six. It is the manifestation of all five. It is the practical application of our destiny, fortune, environment, virtue, and knowledge.
It is the stage where the philosophical becomes tangible. The proverb doesn't ignore work; it challenges us to build our career not on sheer effort alone, but on a balanced foundation of circumstance, character, and cultivation.
Our job is not what happens after the list; it is what we make from the list 👍