Wong Tai Sin Sign 80 · The Bow's Reflection in the Cup

This story comes from the Jin Dynasty, about a general named Yue Guang who invited his friend Le Guang to drink wine. Le Guang suddenly stopped mid-sip, convinced he saw a snake in his cup. Though he forced himself to finish the wine out of politeness, he became violently ill afterward, tormented by the thought of having swallowed a serpent. Yue Guang investigated and discovered that a decorative bow hanging on his wall had cast its shadow into the wine cup, creating the illusion of a snake. When he showed his friend the truth, Le Guang recovered instantly. This tale became a classic metaphor in Chinese culture about how our fears can literally make us sick, and how confronting reality often dissolves our anxieties completely.