The idiom 塞翁失马

(Sāi Wēng Shī Mǎ) is based on a story from

the Warring States Period (战国时期

Zhànguó Shíqī), which lasted from

about 5th century BCE to 221 BCE.

This was not a specific dynasty

itself, but a period covering the end

of the Zhou dynasty to the

beginning of the Qin Dynasty. 

Timeline of Chinese Dynasties and Periods

Map of the Warring States Period

During the Warring States Period seven major countries vied for

power and land. The period was ended by the unification of China

under Qínshǐ Huángdì (秦始皇帝), the first emperor of China.

Unified China then entered the Qin dynasty. 

Qínshǐ Huángdì

Throughout history China has lived under the constant

threat of invasion from barbarian tribes of the north—the

Manchus, the Mongolians, and the Xiōngnú (匈奴) – (Huns).   It

was the Xiōngnú that terrorized China during the Warring States

Period, the Qin and Han dynasties.  They are likely the 外族

(wàizú) referenced in this story.

The Xiōngnú

The main character of the story 塞翁 (Sài Wēng) lived on that perilous northern border...