The phrase “blessing in disguise” refers to events that initially appear negative but turn out to be helpful. It stems from the belief that God or gods can bestow good things upon humans, and that humans cannot always perceive the long-term ramifications of an event. The phrase has extended beyond Europe into other cultures, including China. The concept is demonstrated in literature and media, such as the story of Sai Wong and the TV show “Red Dwarf.” However, the phrase can also be used insensitively, as demonstrated by Pat Robertson’s comments about the earthquake in Haiti.
“Blessing in disguise” is a phrase used to indicate when events appeared to be negative, but turned out to be helpful in some way. The phrase usually indicated low or negative expectations about short-term events and a surprise about the long-term consequences of those events. The idea of finding good from bad traits has extended beyond Europe into other cultures around the world, including China.
The phrase appears to have arisen from the religious belief that God or gods have the ability to bestow good things upon humans. Most ancient cultures believe that receiving blessings means reaching an agreement with God and that insulting God will always lead to a bad thing. The term also indicates how divine powers have divine wisdom and that humans cannot always perceive the long-term ramifications of an event.
Hua Nan Zi first wrote the Chinese equivalent of “blessing in disguise” with her story of a farmer named Sai Wong in the Han Dynasty. In the story, there are two bad events that eventually become good, much to the surprise of his fellow villagers. Before him his old horse runs away, then his son falls and breaks his leg. The villages are nice both times, but are surprised by how calm Sai Wong is and how he believes there will be a “blessing in disguise” every time. First his horse returns with a beautiful mare and then there is a war and his son is saved from death on the battlefield by his wound.
The science fiction (SF) television comedy in Britain “Red Dwarf” demonstrates how a person can learn from a setback and make it a “blessing in disguise”. In the episode titled “Dimension Jump” in Series 4, the character Arnold Rimmer meets another version of himself from another dimension called Ace Rimmer. One is brilliantly successful and the other is a complete failure, while one was held back and had to repeat a year in school while the other continued through the school system. Ace Rimmer, the successful charming, is the version that was held back, while Arnold continued in school and never learned the lessons that Ace did suffering bad luck.
The term can be loosely used to make a point or to advertise. Usually, the “blessing in disguise” is used after the event to record how lucky something turned out to be in the end. Pat Robertson, for example, used an earthquake in Haiti in 2010 to support the belief that Haiti was cursed and that the earthquake was a “blessing in disguise.” Such comments were called unfair and insensitive to the suffering of a community.
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