Guanyin Oracle Lot 20: Jiang Taigong meets King Wen
The Verse
After long spring rains, how welcome the first clear sky;
The moon and sun shine brighter, little by little.
Old affairs are settled; new endeavors thrive;
Soon, with one leap, you reach the isles of the immortals.
Translation by MyFate.AI. The Chinese original is the authoritative text.
AI readingThe long rains finally give way to clear skies, and the gloom disperses. Past troubles are settled, new plans move forward smoothly, and happy events will soon bring fulfillment.
The Story Behind the Lot
Jiang Taigong meets King Wen
Jiang Taigong, also known as Jiang Ziya, possessed exceptional gifts for governing the realm from an early age, yet he spent many years in obscurity and poverty. Approaching seventy, he had still achieved neither office nor renown, as though trapped beneath endless rain, despondent because his time had not yet come. He withdrew to the banks of the Wei River and fished at Panxi, holding a straight hook three inches above the water. He said that he was waiting not for fish, but for an enlightened ruler. King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang, had long sought worthy advisers. Before a hunting expedition, he consulted a divination and received the prediction: “Your catch will be neither dragon nor hornless dragon, but an adviser to a hegemon or king.” As foretold, he found Jiang Ziya on the northern bank of the Wei River. After a long conversation, the delighted king exclaimed, “My late grandfather long hoped for someone like you!” He therefore honored him with the title Taigong Wang, meaning “the one the Grand Duke hoped for,” brought him back in his own carriage, and appointed him preceptor of the state. For Jiang Taigong, the long rain had finally cleared, and he could at last realize his great ambitions, helping the house of Zhou overthrow Shang and establish its rule. This lot draws on Jiang Taigong’s long years of obscurity and patient waiting before his eventual meeting with King Wen. It suggests that, even after prolonged hardship and ill fortune, those who remain steadfast in their purpose and patiently await an enlightened patron or benefactor will one day see the clouds part, the rain cease, and their fortunes rise.
The Story Behind the Lot (alternate version)Another traditional version, for reference
Su Wu Returns to Han
Su Wu was a distinguished official of the Western Han dynasty. In the first year of Emperor Wu’s Tianhan era, he was sent as an envoy to the Xiongnu, bearing the imperial staff of authority. Caught up in internal Xiongnu unrest, he was detained. The chanyu used threats and inducements of every kind to make him surrender, but Su Wu preferred death to submission and remained faithful to his Han commission. The chanyu exiled him to herd sheep beside the Northern Sea, declaring that he could return to Han only when the rams gave birth, thus seeking to extinguish all hope of his homecoming. Amid snow and ice, Su Wu dug up wild rodents and ate grass seeds to survive. He tended sheep while holding the Han staff, enduring every hardship. Though all the yak-tail hairs adorning the staff eventually fell away, his loyalty never wavered throughout nineteen full years. During Emperor Zhao’s reign, Han and the Xiongnu entered a marriage alliance, and the Han court demanded Su Wu’s return. The Xiongnu falsely claimed that he had died. Fortunately, a Han envoy challenged their account with the stratagem of claiming that a letter from Su Wu had been found tied to a wild goose’s leg, and Su Wu was finally allowed to return. By then his beard and hair were white, and both court and country honored his steadfast loyalty. This lot draws on Su Wu’s years of herding sheep beside the Northern Sea and his eventual safe return to Han after suffering gave way to happiness. It suggests that those who endure hardship without surrendering their convictions will eventually see the clouds part and the moon emerge, with adversity turning to good fortune. Perseverance brings affairs to fulfillment and an honorable conclusion.
Readings by Topic
- Career
- The sky clears after prolonged rain, and the low point has passed. You can now move ahead confidently with new plans.
- Wealth
- The time is not yet ripe. Wait patiently for the clouds to part and the sun to emerge.
- Relationships
- Let matters develop naturally, and the relationship can succeed. As old affairs are resolved, a new romantic connection arrives.
- Home and Family
- The outlook is moderate. Sincere prayers for blessings accompany a gradual improvement in circumstances.
- Personal Outlook
- Pray for blessings and a change in fortune. The gloom disperses, and your prospects gradually brighten.
- Health
- The traditional counsel is to perform rites to avert adverse stellar influences and pray for blessings. The lot points to an easing of illness, like clear skies after rain. Serious illness requires professional medical care.
- Travel
- The traveler encounters minor delays along the way but will eventually arrive.
- Finding Someone
- News will come after some delay. Wait patiently for information.
- Business
- Postpone further negotiations over cooperation. The agreement will come together when the time is right.
- Pregnancy
- The lot foretells a daughter, with mother and child safe.
- Legal Matters
- Settle the case through reconciliation and bring it to a close. Do not prolong the dispute.
- Lost Property
- The lost item can be found with a diligent search.
- Relocation
- Moving is auspicious. Like clear skies after prolonged rain, a new home can bring a fresh beginning.
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