King of Swords

Upright

Keywords: Rationality; integrity; seriousness; professionalism; reputation-conscious; discipline; high standards; morality

Events: Rational communication; forming opinions based on external information; objective analysis

Personality: Honest; sharp-minded; reputation-conscious; rational; authoritative; serious; disciplined; values morality; good listener; professional; a mentor or influential figure

Mental State: Proud; emotionally stable

Advice: Apply your intelligence and judgment to real-world problems, and things will progress smoothly; view situations from an objective perspective and maintain rationality

Card Imagery: The King of Swords sits upright on his throne, holding a slightly tilted sword in his right hand.

Symbolism:

• Red Robe: Nearly covers his head, concealing his hair—symbolizing his conservative nature and reluctance to expose too much of himself
• Environment: Unlike the stormy setting of the Knight of Swords, the King of Swords' surroundings are calm and harmonious
• Tilted Sword: Unlike the Queen of Swords, whose sword is perfectly upright, the King’s sword leans slightly—indicating that his decisions are influenced by external factors rather than pure neutrality
• Butterfly Motif: Butterflies generally symbolize personal growth and transformation. In this card, they may also represent the interconnectedness of all living beings and the universe

Reversed

Keywords: Control; coldness; arrogance; selfishness; tyranny

Events: Judging people or situations based on rigid thinking; arrogance to the point of believing one controls others’ fates; disputes; intimidation; poor communication; indifference to others’ suffering; dissatisfaction with people and situations

Personality: Selfish; tyrannical; domineering; self-righteous; manipulative; ruthless in achieving goals; oppressive leader; arrogant; emotionally distant; avoids responsibility; greedy; abusive

Mental State: A. Overconfident; feeling superior. B. Angry; discontented.

Advice: Respect others' independence—do not excessively interfere in their lives; understand that the world is not just black and white—everyone has their own interpretation of reality; be cautious of selfish and tyrannical individuals around you—maintain only a surface-level relationship, as dependence on them may lead to exploitation

Card Imagery: A. The King of Swords stands atop a mountain, boasting arrogantly, while the people below are bound by chains under his control. B. The King of Swords reveals his ruthless nature, cursing another person harshly.