Guanyin Oracle Lot 39: Lady Meng Jiang seeks her husband
The Verse
News from the distant horizon may be hard to find;
Do not let private longing make you press your claim.
You might as well grind a stone and hope to make a mirror—
All that effort will be spent in vain.
Translation by MyFate.AI. The Chinese original is the authoritative text.
AI readingNews from far away may be hard to obtain. Do not force a chance that is not yours to claim. A stone cannot be ground into a mirror; forcing the matter will only waste your energy and lead nowhere.
The Story Behind the Lot
Lady Meng Jiang seeks her husband
Meng Jiangnü is a figure from a folk legend set in the Qin dynasty. Soon after her marriage, her husband, Fan Xiliang, was conscripted to help build the Great Wall and never sent word again. Worried about him, Meng Jiangnü traveled a thousand miles through bitter cold to the frontier to bring him winter clothes and search for him. But when she arrived, her husband had already died from exhaustion, and his remains were buried beneath the wall. Overcome with grief, she wept without stopping. Legend says her tears toppled eight hundred li of the Great Wall. In the end, husband and wife remained separated by death, and her search came to nothing. In this lot, the story signifies that desperate striving may end in futility. The person you hope to hear from or the matter you are pursuing may remain beyond reach, with little prospect of a result. Persistently chasing it will only waste your energy and deepen your sorrow. Recognize the situation and let go of your fixation. Do not force what cannot be attained. Accept things as they are and take care of yourself to spare yourself further hardship.
The Story Behind the Lot (alternate version)Another traditional version, for reference
Mi Heng Is Sent to Huang Zu
Mi Heng was a famous scholar at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty. Arrogant and contemptuous of others, he once stripped naked, beat a drum, and loudly insulted Cao Cao. Cao Cao disliked his wild behavior but did not want to be known for killing a worthy man, so he sent Mi Heng on to Liu Biao of Jingzhou. Mi Heng then offended Liu Biao, who passed him along to Huang Zu, the Administrator of Jiangxia. Huang Zu had a violent temper. Mi Heng insulted and humiliated him in public, and Huang Zu flew into a rage and had him executed. Mi Heng was only twenty-six years old. He had talent to spare but accomplished nothing and died with bitterness in his heart. In this lot, the story signifies that forcing one’s way toward fame and office, or flaunting one’s sharpness, can bring disaster. Running about and scheming for success will not help you achieve your aims and may even bring trouble if you speak or act carelessly and fail to show restraint. Keep your abilities understated, act with humility, and exercise self-control. Do not flaunt your talent or force what is difficult to attain; this is how to avoid disaster and protect yourself.
Readings by Topic
- Career
- Do not force a promotion or a new venture; like grinding a stone into a mirror, it will be futile
- Wealth
- Fortunes are modest, with little chance of a major gain
- Relationships
- The relationship is unlikely to succeed; forcing it will not help
- Home and Family
- Fortunes at home are temporarily steady; keep things as they are and avoid rash changes
- Personal Outlook
- Fortunes are ordinary; beware of secret schemes by petty adversaries
- Health
- Pray for protection and stay calm while recovering. Serious illness requires professional medical care
- Travel
- The traveler has not returned and there is no clear date; travel is inadvisable
- Finding Someone
- News is hard to obtain, and the person is difficult to find
- Business
- Business is obstructed; forcing a deal will not make it succeed
- Pregnancy
- A girl is indicated; remain calm and take good care
- Legal Matters
- You are likely to lose the case; it is best to end the dispute early
- Lost Property
- The lost item is nowhere to be found and is unlikely to be recovered
- Relocation
- Fortunes at home are steady; stay put
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