Guanyin Oracle · Lot 40

Balanced

What it means

A lot of gentleness prevailing. Yin rising means soft, restrained, accepting approaches work better now; it is especially fortunate for women, while men should temper force, and things move from hard to easy. Empress Ma won respect through humility and wisdom. For anyone, softness overcomes hardness now.

By matter

Line by line

1. 紅輪西墜兔東升
   The red sun sets in the west; the jade rabbit rises in the east.
2. 陰長陽消是兩形
   Yin grows as yang fades: two different tides.
3. 若是女人占此卦
   If a woman draws this lot,
4. 增添福祿稱心情
   blessings increase and her wishes are met.

Classic commentary

此卦陰長陽消之象。凡事先難后易也。

陰利女人。不宜男子。若是求謀。先凶后吉。

The image: yin waxing and yang waning; hard first, easy later. The verdict: yin favours women more than men; for plans, trouble first and good later.

The story · General Ma Yuan's Daughter Becomes Empress

After the great Han general Ma Yuan died, he was slandered and his family declined. His youngest daughter entered the crown prince's household and, when he became Emperor Ming, was made empress. Humble, frugal, wise and capable, Empress Ma was revered as a model consort.

Reference: Lot 40 of the Guanyin Oracle at Mengjia Longshan Temple, Taipei, with its traditional image, verdict, guidance and story. Story summaries are our own.