Writing the character "yun" with a brush.

     The New Year has just begun, and I've already received numerous emails from friends. Opening them, I find they're all filled with blessings, like "May all your wishes come true" and "Good luck!" So, what exactly is "luck" (运)? Let me show you by writing the character for "luck" (

    运). Luck (运) is composed of the radical for "walking" (辶) and the character for "cloud" (云). Speaking of luck, we need to explain clouds. How are clouds formed?

    Water from rivers, lakes, seas, and plants on land evaporates as temperatures rise, forming water vapor that enters the atmosphere. As this water vapor rises, the air pressure decreases due to the thinner air at higher altitudes, causing the air to expand rapidly. During this expansion and ascent, energy is consumed, causing the temperature to drop. Some of the vapor continues to rise, while the rest condenses into tiny water droplets, suspended in the air. Countless tiny water droplets make up clouds.

    Every time I look up, I see a blue sky, but sometimes there are clouds, sometimes no clouds, sometimes a dark, heavy expanse, sometimes like fluffy white cotton balls. Clouds drift and move across the sky, from one side to the other—this is luck, transportation, and logistics. Moving things from one side to the other is called "transportation." However, transportation isn't arbitrary; some things are called transportation, while others aren't. Transportation is like clouds, carrying relatively large objects. So, how do we transport large objects? We need tools like cars, trains, ships, and airplanes. Thus, transportation tools came into being.

    Clouds, moving from land to sky, changing from water vapor to tiny droplets, from liquid to gas and back to liquid—this process of change is also called transportation. We say that human destiny and national fortune are a kind of encounter, a kind of transportation.

    Clouds in the sky are sometimes visible and sometimes not; this too is transportation. In ancient times, our science and technology were underdeveloped, and we didn't understand clouds. We always felt that the clouds in the sky were unpredictable, just like our luck. When the sky is cloudless, there are no obstacles, our mood is good, our luck is good, everything goes smoothly, everything we do succeeds, wealth flows in, and good fortune follows. When the sky is full of dark clouds, our mood is bad, misfortune follows, and nothing goes well; we say we have bad luck.

    We understand cloud formation; mastering this knowledge allows us to use it freely, making us unstoppable – that's a skill. For example, in writing, good wrist coordination and mastery of stroke order result in more beautiful characters. We can apply the knowledge we've learned with ease, strategizing and controlling everything as we see fit, at our fingertips. If you're lucky enough, even bad luck can turn into good; "luck is in our hands." We can't

    choose our birth, but we can determine our "luck." Reading changes destiny; mastering knowledge allows for strategic planning. Mastering everything brings good fortune. A good mood brings good luck, a bad mood ruins everything; destiny is in your hands. When bad luck comes, don't be stingy with money; saving money can avert disaster, and where there's life, there's a future.

    Meeting you is luck, seeing me write is luck, being able to write is luck – all of this is luck. Marrying a wife is luck, marrying a good wife is luck, passing the imperial examination is luck, achieving success in one's career is luck, and a harmonious family is luck. Today, I'm writing the character for "luck" (运). What do you think? Best wishes for good luck!