This entry explains classical idiom “Cang huang fan fu” derived from Mozi ‑ On Dyeing. Stemming from the silk‑dyeing metaphor, it describes fickle, unpredictable shifts in circumstances, fortune or human dispositions.
This classic idiom from Zhuangzi tells a story about a monkey keeper swapping the order of chestnuts. The total amount remained the same, yet the monkeys’ reaction changed dramatically. Today it describes fickle people who keep changing their decisions, warning us to watch out for empty tricks and inconsistent promises.