On November 3, 2003, a tragic car accident occurred in Taipei, Taiwan. A high school senior parked his car on a downhill ramp and got out to retrieve something, only for the vehicle to suddenly slide. In a desperate attempt to stop it, he was run over by his car. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The entire incident was captured on surveillance cameras, and the next day, Taiwanese media reported it with headlines like “Car Slides at Ramp, Driver Run Over and Seriously Injured” and “Bizarre Accident: High School Senior Attempts to Stop Car, Dies from Injuries.”
Mr. Zhang, a florist, had been successfully running a flower business and had accumulated some wealth. However, in August 2003, a typhoon hit his area, causing him to lose tens of millions of New Taiwan Dollars. Coupled with significant debts, he found himself in a dire situation.
In desperation, someone advised Mr. Zhang to visit a temple known for its spiritual efficacy. He decided to give it a try. At the temple, the caretaker told him that to receive extraordinary luck, he must vow and promise to repay if his wish came true. Mr. Zhang vowed, “As long as my business recovers for six months, I won’t care about anything else!” Unfortunately, the trouble lay in the words “won’t care about anything else!”
That night, Mr. Zhang dreamt of a set of numbers: “11 03 22 41 47 48.” He noted them down and used these numbers to buy a lottery ticket the next day. He won the jackpot, amounting to over 50 million New Taiwan Dollars, to his amazement. Overjoyed, Mr. Zhang believed the temple’s powers were real. With the winnings in the lottery, he paid off his debts and bought a luxury car worth millions. However, this joy was short-lived, as an unexpected tragedy struck.
Mr. Zhang’s son died in the car accident
The student who died in the unfortunate car accident was Mr. Zhang’s only son. The boy had snuck into the garage to drive the car while his father was away. Having never formally learned to drive, his inexperience led to the tragedy. Upon receiving the news from the police, Mr. Zhang rushed to the hospital, but was too late to see his son one last time. Heartbroken, he recalled the lottery ticket and was filled with doubt: If life was to be exchanged for sudden wealth, shouldn’t it have been his own life? Why did it affect his son?
The police showed Mr. Zhang several photos from the surveillance footage, explaining the sequence of the accident. As he looked through the images, Mr. Zhang was stunned by an even more incredible discovery. The time displayed on the surveillance camera when his son was run over matched the numbers he had dreamed of: 2003/11/03 22:41:47 48 (11 03 22 41 47 48)!
Mr. Zhang suddenly understood that such coincidences are rare. He had sought undeserved luck and vowed not to care about anything else. It became clear that the lottery winnings of over 50 million New Taiwan Dollars were obtained at the cost of his son’s life. One can only imagine the deep regret and sorrow in Mr. Zhang’s heart. If time could be reversed, he would never have sought sudden wealth at the temple nor made such a vow.
Mr. Zhang’s story may seem unbelievable to many, yet it highlights the existence of phenomena in this world that modern science cannot explain, and they are not mere “superstitions.” According to traditional Chinese culture, unseen beings exist beyond the higher realms of Buddhas, Taoists, and deities, including malevolent spirits and supernatural entities. The entity Mr. Zhang worshipped was likely one of these. They lack significant power and cannot alter a person’s predetermined fate or karma. Still, they possess minor abilities to manipulate certain aspects, such as allowing someone to use future blessings in advance and exchanging health or lifespan for material gains.
When someone makes a vow to these malevolent spirits, it is akin to agreeing to be governed by them. The ultimate price one pays is often unknown. In Western society, such individuals are said to have sold their souls to the devil and are destined for hell. While the cultural expressions differ between the East and the West, the underlying principle remains the same.
In traditional Chinese culture, making a vow is a solemn and sacred act, originating from sacrificial rituals to express one’s intentions and determination to the heavens and deities. Hence, the ancient Chinese, who revered the sky and believed in gods, approached vows with extreme caution, reverence, and humility. This is why there is a saying in folklore: “You can eat recklessly, but you cannot make vows recklessly.” Once a vow is made, the heavens and spirits witness it, and any inappropriate behavior or breach of the vow can lead to unforeseen disasters with potentially severe consequences.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
