Guanyin Oracle Lot 77: Jade returned intact to Zhao
The Verse
In dreams, more dreams promise riches untold;
Fame and fortune outside you are hard to grasp.
Across distant waters and far-off hills, trust is hard to place;
One word from a benefactor brings a smile at last.
Translation by MyFate.AI. The Chinese original is the authoritative text.
AI readingDo not trust idle fantasies or empty promises. News from far away may be hard to verify. Seek guidance from a benefactor to clear the fog and bring matters to a smooth resolution.
The Story Behind the Lot
Jade returned intact to Zhao
This is the story of Lin Xiangru, a senior minister of Zhao during the Warring States period. King Huiwen of Zhao acquired the Heirloom Jade of the He clan from Chu. When King Zhao of Qin heard of it, he falsely claimed he would trade fifteen cities for the jade, but in truth he meant to seize it without payment. The King of Zhao sent Lin Xiangru to Qin with the jade. Once there, Lin saw that the King of Qin had no intention of handing over the cities. He claimed that the jade had a flaw to get it back, then stood beside a pillar, his hair bristling with anger, and declared that if the king tried to take it by force, he would smash both his head and the jade against the pillar. He secretly sent an attendant with the jade along a back road to return it to Zhao, while calmly facing the Qin court himself. In the end, he returned safely, and the He family jade reached Zhao intact. This story usually praises the courage and wisdom that preserve a treasure. Here, however, the “dreamed-of wealth and treasure” mirrors the riches, fame, and status people crave: like the Qin king’s empty promise of cities, they are often illusory. The lot draws on this tale’s side of deception and unreality. It warns that fantasies and rumors cannot be trusted, and advises against chasing vanity in favor of practical action.
The Story Behind the Lot (alternate version)Another traditional version, for reference
Fan Ju becomes chancellor of Qin
Fan Ju was a man of Wei during the Warring States period. In his youth, he had great ambitions to serve the state but met with setbacks wherever he turned. He served Xu Jia, a senior minister of Wei, but was falsely accused of colluding with Qi. Wei’s Chancellor, Wei Qi, had him beaten almost to death and left him in a latrine, where he was humiliated and nearly died. He hid his identity and, with the help of the envoy Wang Ji, traveled to Qin concealed in a carriage. For a long time he could not gain an audience there either. Only after submitting a memorial setting out the dangers facing Qin was he summoned by King Zhao to a palace away from the capital. Fan Ju analyzed the situation for the king, proposed the strategy of “allying with distant states and attacking nearby ones,” and advised him on strengthening the state and securing royal authority. He was eventually appointed chancellor and enfeoffed as Lord Ying, rising to the highest rank in the state. This lot invokes Fan Ju’s early hopes for advancement and repeated setbacks, followed by Wang Ji’s introduction and the King of Qin’s recognition that finally revealed his path to success. It teaches that idle fantasies and hearsay are no support: one needs guidance from a benefactor and steady, practical effort to clear the fog and accomplish great things. Seek help from a wise mentor and good friends.
Readings by Topic
- Career
- Do not trust rumors; heed a benefactor’s advice
- Wealth
- Dreams of getting rich overnight are unrealistic; a benefactor may bring opportunity
- Relationships
- Rumors are often false; a matchmaker may help bring you together
- Home and Family
- Pray for blessings to ease your worries
- Personal Outlook
- You are overthinking; try to put your mind at ease
- Health
- Seek a qualified doctor for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment
- Travel
- The journey is long, and your return may be delayed
- Finding Someone
- It is hard to tell whether reports are true, and the person may be difficult to find for now
- Business
- The deal may not go through; consider postponing it
- Pregnancy
- The pregnancy may not be viable; pray sincerely for blessings
- Legal Matters
- Settle early to avoid further complications
- Lost Property
- The lost item is far away
- Relocation
- Wait for a better time before moving
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