Guanyin Oracle Lot 37: Li Jing retires to the mountains
The Verse
When you ask if peace and good fortune are at hand,
A lamp in the wind is ill suited to the task.
Better to settle quietly within your hall;
There, in stillness, a steady light may shine.
Translation by MyFate.AI. The Chinese original is the authoritative text.
AI readingTo keep your fortunes peaceful and steady, avoid restless activity and travel. Like a lamp exposed to the wind, you could easily be harmed. Gather yourself and remain quietly at home to stay safe and avoid trouble.
The Story Behind the Lot
Li Jing retires to the mountains
Li Jing was a celebrated founding general of the early Tang dynasty, famed for his strategic brilliance. He pacified Xiao Xian and Fu Gongshi in the south, defeated the Eastern Turks in the north, and overcame the Tuyuhun in the west. His many victories brought him to the highest ranks of the court and earned him the title Duke of Wei. Yet great achievements can invite suspicion, and court politics are treacherous. Li Jing understood that fullness gives way to decline and that serving a ruler can be as perilous as walking beside a tiger. In his later years, he pleaded illness, resigned from office, and shut his doors to visitors. By willingly surrendering his authority, he withdrew to a quiet life in the countryside and devoted himself to calm and health. Thus he preserved his good name and brought his life to a safe close. Prosperity is like a candle in the wind, easily overturned. In this lot, the story signifies stepping down after success to avoid misfortune and preserve one’s safety. If you are currently in a high position or enjoying success, beware especially of decline after reaching a peak and of attracting trouble through prominence. Be content, keep a low profile, and step back while things are going well. Do not cling to power, status, or fame. Taking a step back opens a wider horizon; keeping calm and protecting yourself can help you avoid turmoil and disaster and find lasting peace.
The Story Behind the Lot (alternate version)Another traditional version, for reference
Guan Gongming Withdraws to Liaodong
The “Guan Gongming” named in this lot is Guan Lu, a man of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, whose courtesy name was Gongming and who was skilled in divination using the Book of Changes. But the person who truly withdrew to Liaodong was another scholar surnamed Guan: Guan Ning, courtesy name You’an, from Zhuxu in Beihai. This story is therefore also known as “Guan You’an Withdraws to Liaodong.” In his youth, Guan Ning studied alongside Bing Yuan and Hua Xin. People of the time called the three of them a dragon: Guan Ning was its head, Bing Yuan its tail, and Hua Xin its belly. Amid the turmoil at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, Guan Ning spurned fame and profit, crossed the sea to live in Liaodong, and taught students while keeping to a life of modesty and integrity. In the end, he kept himself safe and far from harm. The story conveys this lot’s meaning: the storms of worldly life are like a candle flickering in the wind, unsteady and unsafe. Forcing your way into the limelight can bring harm; better to rein in your ambitions, sit quietly within your hall, and find your own light in stillness. This is a moderately auspicious sign: for now, it is better to hold your ground than to advance. Step back and keep out of sight to preserve your safety and peace in the long term.
Readings by Topic
- Career
- Avoid expansion and restless activity; holding your current position is safer
- Wealth
- Guard what you have; only modest gains are likely
- Relationships
- The match is unsuitable and unlikely to succeed
- Home and Family
- Stay in your current home; keeping things as they are brings peace
- Personal Outlook
- Fortunes are ordinary; like a candle in the wind, keep a low profile and stay calm
- Health
- Pray for protection and focus on quiet recovery; serious illness requires professional medical care
- Travel
- Travel is inadvisable; news has arrived from the traveler, but they have not yet returned
- Finding Someone
- A diligent search may lead to a meeting
- Business
- A deal is unlikely to succeed; hold back rather than force it
- Pregnancy
- Pray for protection and focus on calm, careful care
- Legal Matters
- Seek a settlement; it is best not to contest the matter
- Lost Property
- There is no trace of the lost item, and it is unlikely to be recovered
- Relocation
- Do not change homes; staying put is safest
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