The meaning of "wait": To grow into a bamboo that soars to the heavens, one must first bury one's heart deep within the earth. ——Epigraph Life in this world is not always a gentle breeze caressing your face, nor is it always smooth sailing. More often than not, what accompanies us throughout our lives are various hardships or unexpected setbacks.
Moreover, these adversities often leave us bewildered, even plunging us into despair and decline. I believe: at such times, we should calm our minds, reflect deeply, and ponder carefully to seek an opportunity for breakthrough.
In other words, before the next chance arrives, we must first learn to lie low and wait.
Waiting is a form of wisdom. For the wise, waiting is never a waste of time, but rather a strategy of biding one's time and nurturing one's strength. Looking back at the long river of history, Jiang Taigong fished by the Wei River, waiting for sixty years; Zhuge Liang tilled the fields in Nanyang, waiting for twenty-seven years.
The loneliness and solitude of such waiting were likely known only to them.Yet, in my view, the true master of waiting was King Zhuang of Chu. The story goes like this: When King Zhuang first ascended the throne, Chu was in chaos, loyal ministers and traitors indistinguishable. Moreover, newly crowned and lacking support, he could not realize his ambitions despite his grand vision. So he chose to wait, deliberately indulging in pleasure and feigning incompetence.
Meanwhile, he secretly observed his ministers, discerning loyalty from treachery, patiently awaiting his moment to soar. King Zhuang waited three full years. Finally, "Three years without a sound, but when he spoke, it startled the world; three years without flight, but when he flew, he soared to the heavens." He ultimately revived the state of Chu, challenged the hegemony of the Central Plains, and achieved his霸业. I believe their remarkable accomplishments stemmed from their mastery of the art of waiting.
In truth, throughout our lives, opportunities seldom arrive on demand. As the saying goes: Opportunity favors the prepared. And this preparation is itself a form of waiting.
Moreover, this waiting is often lonely and painful—even agonizing. Yet it is also a forging of the spirit.Mencius once stated: "Therefore, when Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on a man, it first afflicts his mind with suffering, exhausts his body with labor, exposes him to hunger, impoverishes him, and disrupts his actions. This is done to stir his resolve, toughen his character, and enhance his capabilities."
Thus, only by tempering one's spirit through waiting can a person cultivate competence and shoulder great responsibilities.
Simultaneously, regarding waiting, one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems is called "Waiting for the Enemy to Exhaust Themselves While You Rest" (以逸待劳), where "wait" (待) also signifies patience. However, when applied to military strategy, it emphasizes seizing the initiative, gaining the upper hand, and establishing superiority—only then does one wait.His strategic mantra was the single character "wait"—waiting for the enemy to walk into the trap.
During one campaign against Yu Chang, Yu's forces initially charged with high morale, challenging the Han army daily. Emperor Guangwu remained unhurried, fortifying his defenses and clearing the countryside. He ensured his soldiers ate well and rested soundly. By the time the Han troops were fully refreshed and their morale soared, Yu's forces had begun to falter.When the moment was ripe, Emperor Guangwu launched his attack with lightning speed, utterly crushing Yu's forces.
This perfectly embodied Sun Tzu's military maxim: "Avoid their sharp edge; strike when their vigor wanes." Emperor Guangwu's mastery of the art of waiting was truly consummate.
Another figure renowned for patience during the Three Kingdoms period was Sima Yi.His waiting was perhaps unconventional, for he waited for his natural lifespan. As for how long that might be, only heaven knew. Yet he waited nonetheless. He understood that in terms of wisdom and strategy, he could never match Zhuge Liang. Thus, he honed his skill in the art of waiting—perhaps he had no choice but to wait for his natural lifespan.Moreover, in Shu, Zhuge Liang personally oversaw every detail, day and night, working himself to exhaustion. How could this last? Ultimately, no matter how Zhuge Liang challenged or clashed, Sima Yi fought less, even avoiding battle altogether. The result? Zhuge Liang died before achieving victory, while Sima Yi emerged triumphant!I find Sima Yi's patience truly profound.
This reminds me of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's words to Kangxi during the dismantling of the feudal fiefdoms in the TV series The Kangxi Dynasty: "Xuanye, don't you see? Wu Sangui is a man of what age, while you are still so young? Can you not wait?"In Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's view, when facing adversity, "waiting" can indeed be a form of wisdom. Of course, Kangxi was an emperor for the ages, possessing both the spirit and wisdom of a sovereign—qualities beyond the ordinary. Yet regardless, his impatience led to the rebellion of the Three Feudal Lords.
Thus, on our life's journey, the concept of "waiting" truly merits deep contemplation. Especially when facing adversity, we would do well to emulate this very act of waiting: to grow into a towering green bamboo piercing the clouds, one must first bury one's heart deep within the earth. This is the foundation.
Among the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching, one is called Xiu (Waiting). Its Commentary on the Judgment states: "Xiu" means to wait. Peril lies ahead, yet with strength and resilience, one avoids entrapment. Thus, one does not fall into distress. "Xiu, with sincerity, brings bright prosperity and steadfast good fortune." Positioned in the place of Heaven, it embodies central rectitude.
"It is favorable to cross the great river" signifies that moving forward brings achievement.This means: "Xu" signifies waiting, for obstacles lie ahead. Yet, by adhering to the righteous path, remaining resolute and unyielding, and waiting with sincerity, one will overcome adversity, find a bright future, and achieve success.
Therefore: In this fleeting life, more often than not, we must first learn to wait.
For waiting is a form of wisdom!
I believe.