Guanyin Oracle Lot 97: Six campaigns from Qishan
The Verse
Moonlight sways through the garden trees, their shadows scattered on the ground;
It seems as though fine jade lies everywhere, spread out all around.
Children come to gather it time and again, but never find a thing;
Who could know that all their searching would come to nothing?
Translation by MyFate.AI. The Chinese original is the authoritative text.
AI readingOpportunities before you are like moonlight: an illusion. Repeated effort is unlikely to bring tangible results. Stop going over the same ground and cut back on plans that lead nowhere.
The Story Behind the Lot
Six campaigns from Qishan
The Six Campaigns to Mount Qi refers to the hardships faced by Zhuge Liang, chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, in his northern campaigns against Cao Wei. Determined to fulfill the late Liu Bei’s wish to restore the Han dynasty, Zhuge Liang devoted himself tirelessly to the cause, repeatedly leading troops out through Mount Qi to attack the Central Plains. But the Shu roads were treacherous, supplies failed to keep up, and the formidable Sima Yi entrenched his forces and avoided battle. With the two states’ strength so unequal, Zhuge Liang’s repeated campaigns, though carefully planned and rich in ingenious stratagems, never achieved complete success. In the end, exhausted by his labors, he fell ill and died in camp at Wuzhang Plains, his ambition unfulfilled. This tale laments how a person may do everything in their power yet still fail to achieve their aims, for success also depends on fate. In this oracle, it is a very inauspicious sign: the matter you have in mind may seem full of promise, and you may plan again and again and exhaust yourself trying, yet it is likely to be like scooping the moon from water or reaching for flowers in a mirror. A treasure may seem within your grasp, but when you reach out, you find nothing. Know when to wait and keep within your proper bounds. Do not force matters or act rashly, lest your efforts and energy go to waste.
The Story Behind the Lot (alternate version)Another traditional version, for reference
Deng Tong Mints Coins from a Copper Mountain
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, Deng Tong, a former boatman known as the Yellow-Headed Man, won the emperor’s favor after matching a sign from one of his dreams and rose rapidly in status. The emperor summoned a renowned physiognomist to read Deng Tong’s face. The man saw that Deng did indeed have the bearing of a noble, but also foresaw a miserable end and predicted that Deng would one day die of hunger. The emperor refused to believe him. Instead, he granted Deng a copper mountain in Yan Dao, Shu Commandery, and allowed him to mint coins there. Deng coins soon circulated throughout the realm, making him nearly as wealthy as the emperor. Deng also went to great lengths to curry favor: when sores on the emperor’s body oozed pus, Deng bent down and sucked them clean, one by one. When the emperor asked who in the land loved him most, Deng replied, “The Crown Prince.” This put the prince on the spot, and he held a grudge from then on. After Emperor Wen died and the prince took the throne, Deng’s property was confiscated. Just as the physiognomist had predicted, Deng died of hunger. This is a very inauspicious oracle: the moonlight makes the ground look like fine jade, as if precious stones were scattered everywhere, but children gather them again and again only to end up empty-handed. Wealth gained through another’s favor can vanish when fortune turns. Do not presume on favor or become greedy for profit, lest you be left with nothing.
Readings by Topic
- Career
- Repeated plans are unlikely to come to fruition, like trying to grasp a reflection. Avoid needless effort.
- Wealth
- Money may seem to lie before you like moonlight on the ground, but it is an illusion and will bring no real gain.
- Relationships
- A relationship may be pulled back and forth without lasting; in the end, it may prove as fleeting as flowers reflected in a mirror.
- Home and Family
- There is unrest at home. Pray for blessings and take steps to ease the situation; avoid repeated, futile attempts to change things.
- Personal Outlook
- Matters are like trying to scoop moonlight from water. Be cautious and stay still rather than laboring in vain.
- Health
- The illness may be a persistent, hard-to-treat hidden condition. Rest and pray for blessings; serious illness requires professional medical care.
- Travel
- A traveler away from home may be completely out of contact. Travel is unlikely to bring any gains.
- Finding Someone
- The person has vanished without a trace. Searching everywhere will be in vain.
- Business
- Proceed cautiously with deals. They may seem likely to succeed, but are unlikely to bring real profit.
- Pregnancy
- There may be false alarms during pregnancy. Take care to protect the pregnancy and pray for the safety of mother and child.
- Legal Matters
- You are likely to suffer losses and hardship in court, with little to show for your efforts. Settle the matter early if possible.
- Lost Property
- The lost item is unlikely to be recovered; searching for it will be like trying to scoop the moon from water.
- Relocation
- Do not alter your home. A rash move will only bring more needless trouble.
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