迷途知返 — “To realize one has gone astray or made a mistake and then correct it”

Tao Yuanming, a celebrated poet of the Jin Dynasty, came from a family of officials but grew up in poverty after losing both parents young. Despite his circumstances, he was diligent in his studies. He eventually became the magistrate of Pengze County through his uncle's recommendation.

However, Tao Yuanming's true nature was to love nature and a simple life, and he soon felt that his official duties went against his inner desires, causing him great distress. After just over eighty days in office, he resigned, partly to mourn his sister's passing and and partly because he refused to submit to an overbearing imperial inspector.

Upon returning to his pastoral life, Tao Yuanming penned 'Gui Qu Lai Xi Ci' (归去来兮辞), from which the idiom 'Mi Tu Zhi Fan' originates.

In the preface to this work, he reflected on his life journey, acknowledging that while past mistakes couldn't be undone, there was still time to rectify his future path. He realized that becoming an official was a wrong turn, but returning to reclusion was the right decision at the right time. He had indeed lost his way but had the wisdom to return. Many of his renowned pastoral poems were created after this period of self-realization.