A Secret Passageway In Caption. A Secret Passageway The mystery of mysteries is the door of all essence said Laozi the Chinese Philosopher. Here the essential door turned out to be mysterious. Our ancestral home in the village was a huge palacial mansion with thick walls and sky high ceilings of wooden rafters. It was by chance that I opened the door of the basement that no one used. The heavy door opened ever so easily inspite of having been in disuse for so long.