Guanyin Oracle · Lot 72

Balanced

What it means

A lot of honey with a sting. The reward is tempting but carries hidden risk; the more you take, the likelier the sting. Lü Buwei's great gamble brought him power and then ruin. Weigh things carefully, don't be greedy or forceful, and leave the hive alone unless you must.

By matter

Line by line

1. 弄蜂須要求他蜜
   You poke the hive to take its honey,
2. 只怕遭他尾上針
   but fear the sting in its tail.
3. 雖是眼前有異路
   Though another road seems to open,
4. 暗裏深藏荊棘林
   a thicket of thorns lies hidden within.

Classic commentary

此卦結蜂采蜜之象。凡事勞心費力也。

事須仔細。不用強求。結蜂采蜜。有甚來由。

The image: stirring bees for honey; much effort and worry. The verdict: be careful in all things, don't force them; why go stirring up bees for honey?

The story · Lü Buwei's Gamble

The merchant Lü Buwei saw the Qin prince Zichu, a hostage in Zhao, as a rare investment and spent his fortune helping him to the throne, becoming chancellor and Marquis of Wenxin. Later, implicated in a palace scandal, he received a written rebuke from King Zheng ordering him to Shu, and took poison.

Reference: Lot 72 of the Guanyin Oracle at Mengjia Longshan Temple, Taipei, with its traditional image, verdict, guidance and story. Story summaries are our own.