No. 73

Ten of Swords

As dusk descends, a vast silence falls across heaven and earth. A warrior lies fallen in the wilderness, ten shattered swords piercing his back, symbolizing the conclusion of an era and the extremity of suffering. He once fought valiantly and recklessly, yet ultimately tasted the bitterness of defeat on the merciless battlefield. This image is both tragic and thought-provoking, for every sword mark bears witness to past struggles and serves as a necessary passage toward rebirth. Legend says that in this moment of despair, a flash of understanding crossed the warrior's mind: endings often give birth to new beginnings, and only by releasing all past attachments can one draw the strength for rebirth from the ruins. This parable tells us that even in the darkest hour, one must believe that someday pain will transform into fertile soil nourishing the future, allowing life to bloom anew. [Imagery and Symbolism] A figure lies face down on the ground with ten swords in his back (total defeat and suffering). Half the sky is dark while the other half shows the light of dawn (ending as beginning).