Lot 71 (Middle) from the Guanyin Oracle (观音灵签) draws on the allusion "Old Horse in the Stable" — Cao Cao wrote: 'An old horse stabled has ambition for a thousand li; a hero in twilight years still has a vigorous heart.' Showing that ambition is not limited by age.
Lot 71
MiddlePoem
An old horse stabled still has ambition for a thousand li
A hero in his twilight years, vigorous spirit does not cease
Though years are long, the will does not wane
Unflagging diligence ultimately succeeds
Lǎo Jì Fú Lì
Historical Allusion
Old Horse in the Stable
Cao Cao wrote: 'An old horse stabled has ambition for a thousand li; a hero in twilight years still has a vigorous heart.' Showing that ambition is not limited by age.
General Guidance
A middle lot. Ambition undiminished; tempered by time and only stronger. Persist and success will certainly come.
General Guidance
Career
An old horse still aims for a thousand li.
Love
Deep feeling in old age is all the more precious.
Health
Stay vital; vigorous even in later years.
Wealth
Accumulate late in life; the benefit passes to descendants.
Travel
Travel in later years; safety is first priority.
Litigation
Rich experience; respond with composure.
- Tradition
- Guanyin 100 Oracle (观音灵签 / 观音一百签) — a traditional divination practice at Guanyin temples across East Asia, drawing on classical Chinese allusions (典故) as reflective mirrors.
- Source
- Follows the widely circulated 100-lot text commonly printed at Chinese and Taiwanese Guanyin temples. No single canonical edition exists; minor wording variations occur across temple printings.
- Translation
- Chinese preserves traditional phrasing. English renderings are Cihang's adaptations for bilingual devotional reading, not scholarly translations.
- Note
- Reflection, not prediction. The oracle invites contemplation of the lot's historical allusion as a mirror for your present circumstances; it does not claim divinatory certainty.
- Last reviewed