Guanyin Oracle Lot 79: Quietly righting a fallen banner
The Verse
A vow made in vain still binds you to others;
You found safety, yet the vow remains unfulfilled.
Once the hare is caught, the snare is cast aside;
How dare you lightly betray the promise first made?
Translation by MyFate.AI. The Chinese original is the authoritative text.
AI readingKeep the promises you make to others and fulfill your vows. Do not abandon your principles once things go your way; breaking faith erodes your good fortune. Sincere and reliable conduct brings lasting peace.
The Story Behind the Lot
Quietly righting a fallen banner
“Secretly Propping Up a Fallen Banner” is paired with “Wei Ke Ties Grass” to set the two stories against each other as a warning. When trouble comes, many people pray to the gods and make vows, or promise something to another person. Once their wish is granted or their danger passes, they forget those old vows, fail to fulfill them or show gratitude, and betray the intentions they once held—as if secretly toppling a banner they had raised and forgetting their roots. Wei Ke honored his father’s clear-minded instruction and treated his stepmother kindly, earning a debt of gratitude repaid through the tied grass. Yet people often do the opposite: they make good vows and fail to keep them, or receive kindness without repaying it. In doing so, their good fortune fades and their ties of goodwill are severed; even a change for the better may not last. By contrasting the repayment represented by the tied grass with the betrayal of the fallen banner, the lot teaches that vows must be fulfilled, promises kept, and kindness repaid. Be sincere and trustworthy, and your blessings will endure.
The Story Behind the Lot (alternate version)Another traditional version, for reference
Wei Ke Ties Grass
This is a tale of gratitude from the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period, recorded in the Zuo Zhuan. Wei Wuzi, a Jin noble, had a beloved concubine who bore no sons. When he fell ill, he told his son Wei Ke to arrange for her to remarry. As he lay dying, however, he changed his instruction and ordered that she be sacrificed with him. Wei Ke judged that his father’s words in his final delirium could not be trusted, and followed the instruction given while his father was clear-minded: he let his stepmother remarry rather than sacrifice her. Later, Jin fought Qin at Fushi. Wei Ke faced the Qin champion Du Hui, and just as they were locked in combat, an old man appeared on the battlefield and tied the grass there into trip lines. Du Hui stumbled and fell, allowing Wei Ke to capture the powerful foe and win distinction in battle. That night, the old man appeared in a dream and said he was the father of the woman Wei Ke had allowed to remarry, come to repay the kindness of saving his daughter. The lot uses this story to teach that those who keep a kind heart and do good will find kindness returned: good intentions are not wasted, and virtue brings its reward.
Readings by Topic
- Career
- Remember to repay those who help you; benefactors will continue to support you
- Wealth
- Honest business brings lasting profit
- Relationships
- Cherish your partner and keep your promises; do not treat them coldly
- Home and Family
- Fulfill any old vow as soon as you can
- Personal Outlook
- Keep your word and honor your promises; good deeds bring peace
- Health
- After fulfilling your vow, your health may improve
- Travel
- The journey should be uneventful, with neither major gain nor loss
- Finding Someone
- The person may be difficult to find for now
- Business
- Be sure to act carefully and honor your word when signing
- Pregnancy
- A girl; take care throughout the pregnancy
- Legal Matters
- Seek a settlement; do not let the dispute drag on
- Lost Property
- The lost item may be found to the west
- Relocation
- Moving west is favorable
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