Sign 52: Su Qin Fails the Examination

During the Warring States period, the strategist Su Qin failed to persuade the King of Qin and returned home penniless. His wife ignored her loom, his sister-in-law refused to cook for him, and his parents treated him coldly. Su Qin studied the "Yin Fu" relentlessly, binding his hair to a beam and using an awl on his thigh, eventually becoming a minister to six states. This sign foretells that in life's low points, one must endure humiliation and wait for the right moment.

This sign indicates currently low fortune, with efforts yielding little return. In career, setbacks are likely; do not lose heart, but accumulate quietly like Su Qin. In love, one may face coldness; sincerity can move the other. Finances are poor; cut expenses and conserve. The poem's "spring comes, flowers bloom" suggests a turnaround after persistence.