A critical juncture or drastic change in circumstances that reveals true character or loyalty, especially in friendships, often referring to a significant reversal of fortunes.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Western Han Dynasty, Zhai Gong, who was the Grand Judge, was a magnanimous man who enjoyed befriending talented individuals from across the land. Consequently, his home was always bustling with guests.
However, some people became envious and slandered him to Emperor Wu of Han, who then removed him from his official post. During this period, the frequent visitors who used to come to his gate stopped showing up and even went out of their way to avoid his house.
Later, Zhai Gong was reinstated to his former position. Those same people immediately returned. Zhai Gong then inscribed on his gate: "一死一生，乃知交情" (Only through a critical change of fortune, through 'one death and one life,' does one truly come to know friendship).