71

Wenjun Elopes with Xiangru

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The poem

He knew the blue dragon come down to the crossroads,the woman of that year married two husbands;one bow, and two arrows fitted to the string,dragon and horse may not lie easy together.

Original: 认知苍龙下九衢 / 女子当年嫁二夫 / 自是一弓架两箭 / 欲恐龙马不安居

The story

The newly widowed daughter of the rich Zhuo family, Wenjun, heard Sima Xiangru playing the zither and lost her heart. She went to him by night and the two eloped to Chengdu. Poor there, they returned to Linqiong and opened a wine shop where she served at the counter herself. Later Emperor Wu admired Xiangru's writing and took him into office.

What it means

The image is one bow with two arrows, and things go well only if they can be joined again. The sign turns on division: two attachments, two places, two undertakings running at once. There may be a way to reunite what has split, but it demands care. Matters here are largely fated, and an opening exists within the crowding, only do not be greedy and do not stand in two boats. Draw clear lines: let what should join join, and what should end, end.

By area of life

Wealth

Money is made by covering both sides and working back and forth. It is laborious, but there is genuinely a profit in it.

Love

One person holding two attachments, and it will be you or the other. You must choose one and not delay the choosing.

Work

Work or business runs between two places or two undertakings. Decide which one is primary before developing either any further.

Health

Several complaints at once, circling round each other. Discipline and the quieting of vexation do more here than any single remedy.

Travel

Back and forth, and tiring. Settle your arrangements before you leave or you will come up short at both ends.

Advice

One bow cannot hold two arrows, so decide which one you are shooting.