Guanyin Oracle · Lot 2

Cautionary

What it means

This lot bends before it rises. Conditions are not ripe, and forcing things will only meet walls; the verdict repeats "endure" and "bear" to tell you to stay calm and keep building. Su Qin also came home in failure and studied fiercely before he held six seals. Though graded cautionary, the lot does not reject you; it says the time is not yet. Gather strength, and the leap will come.

By matter

Line by line

1. 鯨魚未化守江湖
   The whale has not yet become a dragon, so it stays in rivers and lakes for now.
2. 未許升騰離碧波
   Its time has not come; it cannot yet leap clear of the waves.
3. 異日崢嶸身變態
   One day it will stand out, utterly transformed.
4. 從教一躍禹門過
   Then, with a single leap, it will clear the Dragon Gate.

Classic commentary

此卦鯨魚未變之象。凡事忍耐待時也。

得忍且忍。得耐且耐。須待時至。功名還在。

The image: a whale not yet transformed into a dragon; be patient and wait for your time. The verdict: endure what you can, bear what you can; when the time comes, success will still be there.

The story · Su Qin Fails at First

In the Warring States era, Su Qin studied under Guiguzi and petitioned the King of Qin ten times without success. He came home penniless; his wife would not leave her loom and his sister-in-law would not cook for him. He studied harder than ever, pricking his thigh with an awl to stay awake, and later united six states against Qin, holding the seals of all six.

Reference: Lot 2 of the Guanyin Oracle at Mengjia Longshan Temple, Taipei, with its traditional image, verdict, guidance and story. Story summaries are our own.