Wong Tai Sin Oracle

Wong Tai Sin Sign 86陶侃母留名萬載Mother Tao's Eternal Legacy

Moderately Good
In one line

Stick 86 sets Tao Kan's mother in front of you — the woman who cut off her hair, the one thing she still owned that was hers, to feed strangers at the door.

Tao the famous courtier had once been very poor.

To entertain his quests his mother sold her hair.

This lady was highly praised for what she had done; The best of all mothers was the title she had won.

WONG TAI SIN
Traditional fortune poem
Story

Mother Tao's Eternal Legacy

This stick honors the mother of Tao Kan, a famous general and statesman during China's Jin Dynasty (4th century). When Tao Kan was young and struggling, his family was desperately poor. One winter night, unexpected guests arrived at their humble home. They had no money for proper hospitality, no food to offer, no bedding for the visitors. In a moment that became legendary, Tao's mother cut off her long, beautiful hair and sold it to buy wine, food, and blankets for their guests. In Chinese culture, a woman's hair represented her dignity and beauty — selling it was an act of profound sacrifice. The guests turned out to be important officials who later helped launch Tao Kan's career. His mother's selfless act didn't just save face that night; it changed their family's destiny. She became the archetypal example of a mother who sacrifices everything for her child's future, earning eternal praise in Chinese literature.

Seven Short Readings

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