Guanyin Fortune Sticks: All 100 Poems in English

If you draw a lot at a Guanyin temple, it is most likely from this set. The cylinder holds 100 numbered bamboo sticks, and each number matches a four-line poem graded as an upper, middle or lower lot. All 100 are below, each with the original Chinese, our English translation and a plain-English meaning.

What the practice is

Drawing a lot is called 求籤 (qiu qian) in Mandarin; in Hong Kong and among Cantonese speakers it is known as kau cim, and in English as fortune sticks or the Chinese oracle. It is a form of prayer: you bring a question to the deity, and the poem you receive is read as the answer. The poems are written in classical Chinese and lean on well-known stories from history, opera and legend, which is why each lot here comes with a short note on its story.

How to draw a Guanyin lot

Light incense and tell Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, your name, birth date and address, then state one question clearly.
Ask permission by casting the two crescent-shaped moon blocks (筊, jiao). One flat side up and one round side up is a "yes." Then shake the bamboo cylinder until a single numbered stick falls out.
Confirm the stick with the blocks. A common custom is to ask for three "yes" throws in a row; if you do not get them, draw again.
Collect the poem slip with the same number. Read the whole poem first, then look up the counsel item that matches your question. If it is unclear, the temple staff can interpret it for you.

Ask about one thing at a time. The more specific the question, the easier the poem is to apply.

How many upper, middle and lower lots there are

Grade	Lots	What it suggests
Upper lot (上籤)	24	Things tend to go smoothly, often with help from others
Middle lot (中籤)	58	A mix of good and bad; often a matter of waiting or holding steady
Lower lot (下籤)	18	Better to keep to what you have, pause, or try another way

Grades follow our base text. Some lots are graded differently in other editions (lot 2, for example, is a lower lot in some sets and a middle lot in others), and each lot page notes this. Lot 100 is the "full lot"; by tradition, if you draw it you are advised to draw once more to confirm.

All 100 poems at a glance

Lot	Grade	Poem (opening line in English)	Meaning
No. 1	Upper	天開地闢結良緣，日吉時良萬事全，若得此籤非小可，人行中正帝王宣 Heaven opens, earth unfolds, and a good bond is tied;	Heaven and earth have just opened and the timing is right. The conditions are in place, and what you ask about has a good chance of coming through.
No. 2	Lower	鯨魚未化守江湖，未許升騰離碧波，異日崢嶸身變態，從教一躍禹門過 The whale not yet transformed still keeps to lake and stream;	The whale is still young and cannot leave its home waters. The time has not come; be patient and build yourself up, and one day you will leap the Dragon Gate.
No. 3	Lower	衝風冒雨去還歸，役役勞身似燕兒，啣得泥來呈疊後，到頭疊壞復成泥 Through wind and rain you go and come and go again,	Like a swallow carrying mud through wind and rain to build a nest that keeps collapsing, you work hard but the results do not easily stay.
No. 4	Upper	菱花鏡破復重圓，女再求夫男再婚，自此門閭重改換，更添福祿與兒孫 The broken mirror of water-chestnut flowers is whole once more;	A broken mirror becomes whole again. What was parted can come together, the household takes on a new look, and the blessing carries on to the next generation.
No. 5	Middle	一鋤掘地要求泉，努力求之得最先，無意俄然遇知己，相逢攜手上青天 You dig into the ground with a hoe to look for a spring;	Digging for water with a hoe: if you put in the work, you get there first, and along the way you may unexpectedly meet someone who understands you and rise together.
No. 6	Middle	投身巖下飼於菟，須是還他大丈夫，捨己也應難再得，通行天下此人無 He threw himself beneath the cliff to feed the hungry tiger;	The story of giving one's body to feed a starving tiger: it speaks of a rare generosity of spirit that few people have.
No. 7	Lower	奔波役役重重險，帶水拖泥又渡山，更慮他方求別用，千山萬水未能還 You rush and toil through danger piled on danger's head,	Rushing and toiling, bogged down, with danger all along the road. If you go elsewhere to find a new way, you may not be able to turn back for a long time.
No. 8	Upper	歲寒松柏古栽培，雨雪風霜總不摧，異日必當成大用，功名作個棟樑材 The pine and cypress of the cold year, planted long ago,	Pines and cypresses in the cold season stand up to wind and frost. Long tended, they will one day become the main beams of a great house.
No. 9	Upper	勞苦問我心中事，此意偏宜說向公，一片靈臺明似鏡，恰如明月正當空 You toil to ask me of the matter in your mind:	What is on your mind can be said plainly. A heart like a clear mirror, like the moon in an open sky, leaves nothing hidden.
No. 10	Middle	櫝藏無價寶和珍，只管他鄉外處尋，好似將燈來覔火，不如安靜莫勞心 A priceless treasure lies within the chest at home,	The treasure was in your own house all along, yet you went far away to search for it, like holding a lamp and looking for fire.
No. 11	Upper	欲求好事喜非常，爭相姻親只暫忙，畢竟到頭成好事，貴人接引貴人鄉 You seek a happy matter, a joy beyond the rest;	The good thing you want will come with a stretch of busy confusion, but it will come through in the end, with someone influential leading you in.
No. 12	Upper	時臨否極泰當來，抖擻從君出暗埃，若欲卯寅佳信至，管教立志事和諧 The bottom has been reached, and better days are near;	When things hit bottom they turn. You are climbing out of a low point; set your mind on a goal and things will turn for the better.
No. 13	Middle	自小生身富貴家，眼前萬事總奢華，要君賜受金魚袋，四海傳名足可誇 Born into a house of wealth and noble rank,	A good start and smooth circumstances; there is a chance of being recognized and of your name traveling far.
No. 14	Middle	宛如仙鶴出樊籠，脫却羈縻處處通，南北東西無障碍，任君直上九霄中 You are like a crane of the immortals leaving its cage;	Like a crane flying out of its cage, you are free of your bonds. Every direction is open and the way ahead is wide.
No. 15	Middle	觸人口氣最難吞，忽有災危禍到門，卵破巢空無宿處，深為穩便把心存 Words that give offense are the hardest to swallow down;	Someone's words have offended you and are hard to swallow. When trouble arrives, it is like a nest destroyed, with nowhere to rest.
No. 16	Middle	攢眉思慮暫時開，咫尺雲開見日來，宛如汙泥中片玉，良工一舉出塵埃 The knitted brow and anxious thought for now can come undone;	You can unknit your brow now. Like jade pulled from the mud by a fine craftsman, the clouds are parting to show the sun.
No. 17	Middle	莫聽閑言與是非，晨昏只好念阿彌，若將妄語為真實，畫餅如何療得飢 Do not listen to idle talk of right and wrong;	Do not listen to gossip. Taking empty words as truth is like trying to fill your stomach with a picture of a cake.
No. 18	Upper	金烏西墜兔東臨，日夜循環恒古今，僧道得之無不利，工商農士各開心 The golden crow sinks in the west, the jade hare climbs the east;	Sun and moon keep turning without end. People in every walk of life can find satisfaction, and what you do produces results.
No. 19	Middle	急水灘頭放艇時，狂風作浪欲何為，待他浪靜風停後，穩載船歸過不危 You launch your boat upon the rapids' rushing head;	You are putting a boat into fast water while the wind and waves are high. Wait for the wind to drop and the water to calm, and you will reach shore safely.
No. 20	Middle	當春久雨喜初晴，玉兔金烏漸漸明，舊事已成新事遂，看看一跳入蓬瀛 After long spring rains, the first clear day brings cheer;	The first clear day after long rain, with sun and moon growing brighter. Old matters are settled, new ones go smoothly, and you are about to move up a level.
No. 21	Upper	陰陽道合總由天，女嫁男婚豈偶然，但看龍蛇堪運動，熊羆叶夢喜團圓 When yin and yang unite, it all comes down from heaven;	The joining of yin and yang, a man and woman marrying: these are meant to be. The match comes together and the family has something to celebrate.
No. 22	Upper	四郊田畝皆枯竭，久旱俄然三日霖，花果草芽俱潤澤，始知一雨值千金 The fields in all four quarters are parched and cracked and dry;	Sweet rain after a long drought. Everything is revived, and you realize how much this one rain is worth.
No. 23	Middle	欲攀仙桂蟾宮去，豈慮天門不放開，謀望一般音信好，高人自送嶺頭來 You wish to climb the moon's palace and pluck the cassia bough;	You want to pluck the cassia on the moon, that is, to win honors, and the gate of heaven will open. The news is good, and someone capable will come forward to help.
No. 24	Lower	不成鄰里不成家，水泡痴人似落花，若問君恩難得力，到頭畢竟事如蔴 No peace among the neighbors, no home that is a home;	Neighbors at odds and a home that does not feel like one, all melting away like bubbles and fallen petals. Even asking others for help does little good.
No. 25	Middle	過了憂危第幾重，從今再歷永無凶，寬心自有寬心計，得遇高人護聖功 How many layers of worry and danger have you passed?	One layer of worry after another is behind you, and things become calm from here. Relax, and you will meet someone capable who helps you.
No. 26	Middle	上下傳來事總虛，天邊接得一封書，書中許我功名事，直待終時亦是無 From high and low the reports come in, and all of it is air;	The news coming from all sides is mostly empty, and the honors you were promised may come to nothing in the end.
No. 27	Middle	一謀一用一番機，慮後疑前不敢為，時至自然逢貴助，銀牆鐵壁好安居 One plan, one use, one turn of opportunity;	You hesitate over every plan and do not dare to act. When the time comes, help will arrive and you will be as secure as behind iron walls.
No. 28	Middle	東方月上正嬋娟，頃刻雲遮月半邊，莫道圓時還又缺，須教缺處復重圓 In the east the moon comes up, lovely in its grace;	Half the moon is hidden by clouds, but only for now. What wanes will be full again; wait patiently for the clouds to pass.
No. 29	Middle	寶劍光芒出匣時，匣中應不被塵欺，貴人親手提攜起，儘可防身更無疑 The precious sword flashes bright as it leaves the sheath;	A fine sword drawn from its sheath, flashing bright. Someone influential is lifting you up, and you can show what you can do.
No. 30	Middle	勸君切莫向他求，似鶴飛來暗箭投，若去採薪蛇伏草，恐遭毒手也堪憂 I urge you, do not go to others asking for their aid:	Do not go looking outside for help. There are hidden arrows and snakes in the grass out there; someone may be plotting against you.
No. 31	Middle	清閑無事靜處坐，飢時吃飯困時臥，放下身心不用忙，必定不遭殃與禍 Sit in quiet, idle and with nothing on your mind;	Idle and at ease, eating when hungry and sleeping when tired. Put down your burdens and stop rushing, and trouble will not find you.
No. 32	Middle	渺渺前途事可疑，石中藏玉有誰知，一朝良臣分明剖，始覺其中碧玉奇 The road ahead is dim and far, the matter hard to read;	You cannot see the road ahead, but there is jade inside the stone. It takes someone with a good eye to split it open and show its worth.
No. 33	Middle	石藏美玉在中心，得指何須向外尋，直待高人來剖析，恰如靈雨滌煩襟 Beautiful jade is hidden in the stone at its core;	The fine jade is already in your own heart; you need not look outside. Wait for someone wise to point it out, and everything will become clear.
No. 34	Middle	出入行藏禮義恭，言必忠良聽必聰，心下了然俱洞徹，光明如日正當空 Coming and going, at rest or out, courteous and fair,	Courteous in conduct, loyal in speech, sharp of hearing and clear of mind: open and upright like the noon sun.
No. 35	Middle	衣冠重整就宿風，道是無功卻有功，掃卻當途荊棘碍，三人共議事相同 Straighten hat and robe again and keep the old custom's ways;	Straighten yourself up and set out again. What looks like wasted effort does count; the thorns on the road get cleared, and the people involved come to agree.
No. 36	Middle	目前病訟不須憂，實地資財儘可求，恰好繫猿今脫鎖，得歸仙洞去來遊 The illness and the lawsuit now are nothing you should fear;	The worries in front of you need not trouble you. Like an ape freed from its chain, you can come and go as you please.
No. 37	Middle	欲問身安運泰時，風中燈燭不相宜，爭如收拾深堂坐，庶免光搖近處期 You ask when you'll be safe and when your luck will ease;	Like a candle in the wind, your footing is unsteady. Better to take it into an inner room and sit still, out of the draft.
No. 38	Lower	鏡月當空出匣時，剎那雲霧暗迷離，寬心守待浮雲散，更改相宜可望為 The mirror-moon comes from its case into the open sky;	The moon has just come out and clouds and mist hide it again. Stay calm, wait for the clouds to clear, then change your approach.
No. 39	Lower	天邊消息應難問，切莫私心強望求，若把石頭磨作鏡，精神枉費一時休 News from the edge of the sky is hard to ask about;	News from far away is hard to get. Do not push for what you want; it is like trying to grind a stone into a mirror, all effort and no result.
No. 40	Middle	紅輪西墜兔東升，陰長陽消是兩形，若是女人占此卦，增添福祿稱心情 The red wheel sinks into the west, the hare climbs in the east;	The sun sets and the moon rises; yin grows as yang wanes. Tradition reads this lot as more favorable for women, with fortune increasing.
No. 41	Middle	無限好事君須記，恰如認賊作為子，莫貪眼下有些甜，可慮他時還受苦 Remember this, a thing of endless good for you to learn:	Take this advice to heart: do not let a little sweetness now lead you to trust the wrong person, or you may suffer for it later.
No. 42	Upper	君垂恩澤潤無邊，覆禱祈禳沒黨偏，一切有情皆受用，均沾樂利得週全 Your lord pours down his favor, boundless, rich and wide;	Heaven's grace shines on everyone without favor. Everyone benefits, and things turn out complete and whole.
No. 43	Upper	天地交泰萬物新，自形自色自怡神，森羅萬象皆精彩，事事和諧得稱人 Heaven and earth are joined in peace, and all things are made new;	Heaven and earth in harmony, everything renewed. Things flourish everywhere, and everything falls into place.
No. 44	Middle	棋逢對手要藏機，黑白盤中未決時，到底欲知誰勝負，須教先著相機宜 When chess meets its match, you must keep your moves concealed;	Like two evenly matched chess players with the game undecided, you need to keep your plans close and make the first good move.
No. 45	Upper	溫柔自是勝強剛，積善于門太吉昌，若是有人占此卦，宛如止渴遇瓊漿 Gentleness and softness surely overcome the hard and strong;	Gentleness wins over force, and a household that does good has great fortune. It is like finding sweet water when you are parched.
No. 46	Middle	勸君耐守舊生涯，把定身心莫聽邪，直待有人輕著力，滿園枯木再開花 I urge you to endure and keep your old way of life;	Stick patiently with the work you have and ignore bad advice. When someone gives you a small push, even a withered tree will flower again.
No. 47	Upper	錦上添花色更鮮，運來祿馬喜雙全，時人莫訝功名晚，一舉登科四海傳 Flowers added to brocade make its colors brighter still;	Flowers on brocade, fame and fortune together. The honors come late, but when they come, they come all at once.
No. 48	Middle	鵾鳥秋光化作鵬，遨翔得意盡飛騰，直沖萬里雲霄外，任是諸禽總不能 The kun bird, in the autumn light, is changed into the peng;	The small kun bird turns into the great peng and flies ten thousand miles; no other bird can keep up.
No. 49	Middle	營圖萬事若冰澌，何必慳貪苦所為，只好靜心閑處坐，待他興變復奚疑 All your plans and schemes are like thin ice upon the stream;	What you want to do is frozen solid for now. Do not force it; sit quietly, and when the ice melts, things will change.
No. 50	Middle	五湖四海盡行船，高掛風帆把舵堅，幸得順風隨所至，滿船寶貝稱心田 Over five lakes and four seas you sail from shore to shore;	Sailing the five lakes and four seas, sail high and rudder steady, with a following wind: you come home fully laden.
No. 51	Upper	夏日初臨日正長，人皆愁惱熱非常，天公也解諸人意，故遣薰風特送涼 The first days of summer come, and the days are long and bright;	In the heat of summer everyone is miserable, and heaven, seeming to understand, sends a cool breeze.
No. 52	Middle	水中捉月費工夫，費盡功夫卻又無，莫信閑言併浪論，枉拋心力也難圖 To catch the moon in the water takes a world of pains;	Trying to scoop the moon out of the water: after all that work, there is nothing in your hands. Do not believe loose talk, and do not waste your heart on it.
No. 53	Middle	失意翻成得意時，龍吟虎嘯兩相宜，青雲有路終須到，許我功名必可期 Disappointment turns around into a time of pride;	Disappointment turns into success; the dragon sings and the tiger roars. There is a road up to the clouds, and the honors you hope for can be expected.
No. 54	Lower	夢中得寶醒來無，應說巫山只是虛，若問婚姻幷病訟，別尋生路相得宜 In a dream you found a treasure, and on waking it was gone;	Treasure found in a dream is gone when you wake. For questions of marriage or disputes, it is better to look for another way.
No. 55	Middle	相傳罔替子孫贊，衣祿豐盈富在天，金馬玉堂人快樂，飢時吃飯困時眠 Handed down from age to age, the children sing its praise;	Blessings passed down from generation to generation; plenty to wear and eat, comfort and joy, eating well and sleeping well.
No. 56	Middle	澗小石粗流水響，力勞撐駕恐損傷，路須指出前江去，風靜潮平儘不妨 The stream is small, the stones are rough, the water roars along;	A small, rocky, noisy stream: poling the boat takes effort and you may get hurt. Once you find the channel out to the river and the wind drops, there is nothing to fear.
No. 57	Middle	聞是聞非風過耳，好衣好祿日當空，君須記取他年事，汝意還同我意同 Hear right, hear wrong, let it pass like wind by the ear;	Treat gossip as wind in your ears. Food and rank will be plentiful, like the sun overhead, and hearts are in tune.
No. 58	Middle	忠言善語君須記，莫向他方求別藝，勸君安守舊生涯，除卻有餘都不是 Loyal counsel, kindly words: keep them in your mind;	Take this honest advice: do not go elsewhere to learn a different trade. Staying with the work you know is the right road.
No. 59	Middle	直上高樓去避身，四邊繞處是荊榛，誰知造物安排定，得意番成失意人 You climb straight up the tower high to hide yourself away,	You climb a tall tower to hide, only to find thorns on every side. Success can turn to disappointment in a moment.
No. 60	Lower	抱薪救火火增烟，燒卻三千及大千，若問營謀併出入，不如收拾莫憂燃 You carry firewood to put the fire out, and the smoke grows higher,	Carrying firewood to put out a fire only makes it burn hotter. For plans and travel, it is better to stop for now.
No. 61	Middle	日上吟詩月下歌，逢場作戲笑呵呵，相逢會處難藏隱，喝啋齊聲嗹哩囉 Reciting poems by day, and singing under the moon,	Poems and songs, playing along with the moment, laughter all around. But where people gather, it is hard to stay out of sight.
No. 62	Middle	晨昏全賴佛扶持，雖是逢危不見危，若得貴人來接引，此時福祿自相隨 Morning and evening, all depends upon the Buddha's aid;	The gods and buddhas watch over you day and night. You may meet danger but will not come to harm, and with a good guide, fortune will follow.
No. 63	Middle	昔日行船失了針，今朝依舊海中尋，若還尋得原針在，也費工夫也費心 Long ago, while sailing, you let a needle fall;	Searching the sea for a needle you dropped long ago: even if you find it, it will cost you a great deal of time and effort.
No. 64	Lower	譬若金鱗放碧漪，暗遭羅網四邊圍，思量無計翻身出，命到泉關苦獨悲 Like a golden-scaled fish set free in the ripples of blue,	A fish swimming freely in clear water finds itself surrounded by nets on all sides, with no way to turn and escape.
No. 65	Lower	眼前歡喜未為歡，危不危兮安不安，割肉成瘡因甚事，不如守舊得安全 The joy before your eyes is not a joy that you should trust;	The happiness in front of you may not be real, and it is hard to tell safe from unsafe. It is like cutting your own flesh to patch a wound: the cost outweighs the gain.
No. 66	Lower	路險馬行人去遠，失群羊困虎相當，危灘船過風翻浪，春暮花殘天降霜 The road is steep, the horse plods on, the traveler is far away;	A steep road and a tired horse, a lamb lost from the flock, a boat in wild water, flowers withering under frost: danger everywhere.
No. 67	Upper	一條金秤等君情，無增無減無重輕，為是平生心正直，文章不識義皆明 A golden steelyard weighs the feelings in your breast:	Your heart is like a golden scale that tips neither way. You have been upright all your life, and right and wrong are clear to you.
No. 68	Middle	門庭清吉夢禎祥，積善于門大吉昌，訟理婚成蠶又熟，病逢良藥得安康 The house is clean and blessed, and dreams bring omens fair;	A clean, blessed household, with blessings stored up by doing good. Disputes favor you, a marriage can be made, and the family is at peace.
No. 69	Middle	冬來嶺上一枝梅，葉落枯枝總不摧，探得陽春消息近，依然還我做花魁 Winter comes, and on the ridge there stands one plum tree bare;	A plum tree on a winter ridge, leaves gone and branches bare, still stands. When spring arrives, it will again be the first to bloom.
No. 70	Lower	朝朝役役恰如蜂，飛來飛去西復東，春暮花殘無覔處，此身不戀舊叢中 Day after day you toil and bustle like a bee,	Like a bee flying back and forth all day, you find that spring is over and the flowers are gone, and you no longer want to go back to the old place.
No. 71	Middle	誰知愛寵遇強徒，女子當年嫁二夫，自是一弓施兩箭，騎龍跨馬上安居 Who knew your love and favor would meet a forceful man?	One bow with two arrows, a woman promised to two men: things will go well only when they come together a second time.
No. 72	Middle	弄蜂須要求他蜜，只怕遭他尾上針，雖是眼前有異路，暗裏深藏荊棘林 If you play with bees, it is their honey that you seek;	You want the honey but fear the sting. There seems to be a road ahead, but thorns are hidden in the dark along it.
No. 73	Upper	春雷震起蟄中蟲，脫卻塵凡出舊墉，忽遇風雲交際處，自然變化得成龍 The thunder of spring wakes the insects hidden in the ground;	Spring thunder wakes the sleeping insects. Where wind and clouds meet, a creature can turn into a dragon.
No. 74	Lower	慵飛野鶴自投籠，欲舉鵬霄落陷中，南北東西混障碍，此身憔悴恨無窮 A lazy wild crane flies into the cage all on its own;	A lazy crane walks into its own cage; it tries to soar and falls into a trap, blocked in every direction.
No. 75	Middle	宛如抱虎過山前，戰戰兢兢膽碎寒，幸得山前逢妙手，方能保得一身安 It is as if you carried a tiger past the mountain's face,	Like carrying a tiger over a mountain, you tremble every step of the way. Luckily you meet someone skilled, and that is what keeps you safe.
No. 76	Middle	魚龍混雜意和同，耐守寒潭未濟中，不覺一朝頭角聳，禹門一跳到天宮 Fish and dragons mingle, all alike in mind and mood;	Fish and dragons are mixed together, and you are still waiting in a cold pool. One day your horns will show, and with one leap you will pass the Dragon Gate.
No. 77	Middle	夢中說夢獲多財，身外浮名總莫猜，永遠山遙難信定，貴人一指笑顏開 Telling dreams within a dream, you win a pile of gold;	Talking of dreams within a dream, you gain a fortune; fame is not to be counted on. Only when someone capable points the way do you have reason to smile.
No. 78	Upper	冷水來澆白雪洋，不寒不熱自溫涼，要行天下無他事，惟有中藏一藝強 Cold water poured upon white snow in a spreading sea:	Cold water on snow: neither cold nor hot, just right. What carries you through the world is a skill you truly master.
No. 79	Middle	虛空結愿結人緣，保得人安愿未還，得兔忘蹄真絕跡，敢將初誓謾輕瞞 You made a vow into the void to bind a bond with men;	You made a vow and have not yet fulfilled it. Now that you have what you wanted, do not forget the promise you made at the start.
No. 80	Upper	直上高山去學仙，豈知一旦帝王宣，青天白日常明照，志在聲名四海傳 You climbed straight up the mountain high to study the immortals' art;	You meant to go up the mountain to study the ways of the immortals, and instead the emperor calls for you. Open and upright, your name spreads far.
No. 81	Upper	庭前葉落暮秋時，行客奔程勢若飛，謝得天公輕着力，順風相送寶船歸 Before the court the leaves are falling, late in autumn's day;	Leaves falling in late autumn and a traveler hurrying on his way: with a little help from heaven, a fair wind brings the treasure ship home.
No. 82	Middle	炎炎烈火焰燒天，焰裡還生一朵蓮，到底永成根不壞，依然枝葉色新鮮 The blazing fire leaps up and burns against the sky;	A fire rages to the sky, yet a lotus blooms in the flames, its root unharmed, its leaves still fresh.
No. 83	Middle	譬若初三四五蟾，半無半有未完全，須教十五良宵夜，到處清光到處圓 Like the moon on the third, fourth, fifth nights of the month,	The moon on the third to fifth of the month is only a sliver. You have to wait until the fifteenth for the full moon.
No. 84	Lower	因名喪德不和同，切忌忙中變作凶，醉後不知何處去，青松影裡睡矇矓 For the sake of a name you lose your virtue and your peace;	Losing your good name over a name, and falling out with others. In a rush things go wrong, and like a drunk you do not know where you are going.
No. 85	Middle	重開山後藏前事，萬寶園中可再團，醉詠新詩添逸興，貴人引接上雲衢 Beyond the reopened hills the old affairs lie stored;	Sort out what came before, and things can come back together. Someone influential leads you on, and you rise step by step.
No. 86	Upper	春來花發映陽臺，萬里舟行進寶來，躍過禹門三級浪，恰如平地一聲雷 Spring comes, the flowers open and shine upon the terrace fair;	Spring flowers in full bloom and ships sailing home laden with treasure; you leap the Dragon Gate like thunder out of a clear sky.
No. 87	Middle	人行半嶺日啣山，峻險巉巖未可攀，仰望上天垂護佑，此身猶在太虛間 Halfway up the ridge you walk, the sun sinks behind the hill;	Halfway up the mountain with the sun going down and steep crags ahead, you look up and ask heaven for protection, suspended in midair.
No. 88	Middle	木雕一虎在山林，遠望威容意不禁，縱說不妨終可謂，此身如入大江心 A tiger carved of wood is standing in the mountain wood;	A tiger carved from wood looks fierce but cannot hurt anyone. Still, you feel uneasy, as if you were out in the middle of a great river.
No. 89	Upper	出入營謀大吉昌，無瑕玉在石中藏，如今幸得高人指，獲寶從心喜不常 Going out and coming in, your plans are blessed and bright;	Going out and making plans are both very favorable. A flawless jade is hidden in the stone, and with a wise person's pointer you will find it.
No. 90	Upper	忽朝一信天下墀，寶貝船裝滿載歸，若問前程成底事，始終應得貴人提 One morning, news comes down from heaven's very stair:	Good news arrives out of nowhere and a treasure ship comes home fully loaded. As for the road ahead, someone influential will help you all the way.
No. 91	Middle	好把愁眉須展開，大才大用薦將來，一條大路平如掌，凡有施為總稱懷 Now smooth away your worried brow and let it open wide;	You can unknit your brow now. Great talent is put to good use, and a broad, level road lies ahead.
No. 92	Upper	經商得利稱心懷，福祿榮華倍獲財，若問進身謀望事，秀才一舉狀元回 In trade you profit, and your heart is well content;	Business brings profit, and fortune and glory follow. For hopes of advancement, the scholar passes the exam at the first try and comes home first on the list.
No. 93	Middle	鸞鳳翎毛雨壓垂，此時應被雀輕欺，忽朝一日雲霄霽，依舊還教振羽衣 The phoenix's feathers droop beneath the weight of rain;	The phoenix's feathers are weighed down by rain, and for a while sparrows push it around. When the clouds clear, it will spread its wings and fly again.
No. 94	Lower	小人君子別賢愚，事有差訛合是非，琴遇知音當鼓操，爭如定靜得便宜 Tell the petty from the noble, the worthy from the fool;	Tell the good from the petty; when things go wrong, disputes follow. Play the zither only for someone who understands it; otherwise, stay quiet and still.
No. 95	Middle	事業功勳暮與朝，榮華物態不勝饒，報君記取金雞鬪，福祿聲名價自超 Career and merit gather up from morning into night;	Your career and achievements build up day by day, with glory and plenty. Remember the time when the golden rooster crows; your name will rise on its own.
No. 96	Upper	巍巍寶塔不尋常，八面玲瓏盡放光，勸汝志心勤頂禮，天龍擁護降千祥 The towering jeweled pagoda is no common sight to see;	A towering pagoda shining on all sides. Pray sincerely, and the heavenly dragons protect you and blessings come down.
No. 97	Middle	園林月色搖疎影，恍若鋪成滿地瓊，幾度兒童來收拾，豈知收拾總無成 Moonlight in the garden sets the sparse shadows swaying,	Moonlit shadows in the garden cover the ground like jade. The children try again and again to gather them up and never manage it.
No. 98	Lower	經商出入事遲疑，恐惹閒愁與是非，如鳥飛投羅網陷，相看能有幾人知 In trade, in going out and coming in, you waver and delay,	You hesitate over business and travel, afraid of worry and quarrels. It is like a bird flying into a net, and few people know.
No. 99	Lower	等閑騎馬着鞭來，半有憂危半有財，似火方燒頭上屋，天教一雨蕩殃災 At ease you mount your horse and ride, and crack the whip along:	You ride up at an easy pace, half danger and half gain. Just as fire reaches the roof, heaven sends rain to put out the disaster.
No. 100	Lower	欲就東兮欲就西，逢人說事轉痴迷，登山不見神仙面，莫若歸休更勿提 You want to go east, you want to go west;	You want to go east and then west and cannot decide. Talking to others only confuses you more. Better to go home and let it rest.

Original text follows the 100 Guanyin lots compiled by the Jieqian Ge (解籤閣) site, checked lot by lot against nongli.com and 51chouqian.com; story titles differ slightly between editions.

Two versions of the poems

Because the Guanyin lots have circulated so widely, many lots exist in two wordings. Lot 2, for instance, opens with 鯨魚未化守江湖 in one version and 鯨魚未變守江河 in the other; temples in Taiwan mostly use the first, while many mainland Chinese websites use the second. Every lot page shows both. If you drew a lot at a temple, the temple's own slip is the one to go by.

Shiyi, jieyue and the sacred counsel

Besides the poem, each lot carries three short texts. The shiyi (詩意) names the poem's image in a line, such as "the image of sailing with the wind." The jieyue (解曰) is a four-line commentary of four characters a line. The sacred counsel (聖意) lists a verdict for each kind of question: home and family, money, marriage, someone away from home, lost items and more. The "palace" (from Zi to Hai) simply assigns the lots in order to the twelve Earthly Branches, once for lots 1 to 50 and again for lots 51 to 100.

Three common misunderstandings

The Guanyin lots and the Sixty Jiazi lots are the same set.

They are different. The Guanyin set has 100 lots, numbered and graded upper, middle and lower. The Sixty Jiazi set has 60 lots named by stem-branch pairs and is common in Mazu and Earth God temples; see the Sixty Jiazi lots.

A lower lot means great misfortune.

A lower lot usually advises holding steady or pausing. Read the whole poem, then the counsel item for your own question.

The poem describes what will definitely happen.

The lots are guidance and a reminder within a religious practice, not a prophecy. Important decisions still rest on the real situation.

Browse by lot

Lot 1 · UpperHeaven opens, earth unfolds, and a good bond is tied; Lot 2 · LowerThe whale not yet transformed still keeps to lake and stream; Lot 3 · LowerThrough wind and rain you go and come and go again, Lot 4 · UpperThe broken mirror of water-chestnut flowers is whole once more; Lot 5 · MiddleYou dig into the ground with a hoe to look for a spring; Lot 6 · MiddleHe threw himself beneath the cliff to feed the hungry tiger; Lot 7 · LowerYou rush and toil through danger piled on danger's head, Lot 8 · UpperThe pine and cypress of the cold year, planted long ago, Lot 9 · UpperYou toil to ask me of the matter in your mind: Lot 10 · MiddleA priceless treasure lies within the chest at home, Lot 11 · UpperYou seek a happy matter, a joy beyond the rest; Lot 12 · UpperThe bottom has been reached, and better days are near; Lot 13 · MiddleBorn into a house of wealth and noble rank, Lot 14 · MiddleYou are like a crane of the immortals leaving its cage; Lot 15 · MiddleWords that give offense are the hardest to swallow down; Lot 16 · MiddleThe knitted brow and anxious thought for now can come undone; Lot 17 · MiddleDo not listen to idle talk of right and wrong; Lot 18 · UpperThe golden crow sinks in the west, the jade hare climbs the east; Lot 19 · MiddleYou launch your boat upon the rapids' rushing head; Lot 20 · MiddleAfter long spring rains, the first clear day brings cheer; Lot 21 · UpperWhen yin and yang unite, it all comes down from heaven; Lot 22 · UpperThe fields in all four quarters are parched and cracked and dry; Lot 23 · MiddleYou wish to climb the moon's palace and pluck the cassia bough; Lot 24 · LowerNo peace among the neighbors, no home that is a home; Lot 25 · MiddleHow many layers of worry and danger have you passed? Lot 26 · MiddleFrom high and low the reports come in, and all of it is air; Lot 27 · MiddleOne plan, one use, one turn of opportunity; Lot 28 · MiddleIn the east the moon comes up, lovely in its grace; Lot 29 · MiddleThe precious sword flashes bright as it leaves the sheath; Lot 30 · MiddleI urge you, do not go to others asking for their aid: Lot 31 · MiddleSit in quiet, idle and with nothing on your mind; Lot 32 · MiddleThe road ahead is dim and far, the matter hard to read; Lot 33 · MiddleBeautiful jade is hidden in the stone at its core; Lot 34 · MiddleComing and going, at rest or out, courteous and fair, Lot 35 · MiddleStraighten hat and robe again and keep the old custom's ways; Lot 36 · MiddleThe illness and the lawsuit now are nothing you should fear; Lot 37 · MiddleYou ask when you'll be safe and when your luck will ease; Lot 38 · LowerThe mirror-moon comes from its case into the open sky; Lot 39 · LowerNews from the edge of the sky is hard to ask about; Lot 40 · MiddleThe red wheel sinks into the west, the hare climbs in the east; Lot 41 · MiddleRemember this, a thing of endless good for you to learn: Lot 42 · UpperYour lord pours down his favor, boundless, rich and wide; Lot 43 · UpperHeaven and earth are joined in peace, and all things are made new; Lot 44 · MiddleWhen chess meets its match, you must keep your moves concealed; Lot 45 · UpperGentleness and softness surely overcome the hard and strong; Lot 46 · MiddleI urge you to endure and keep your old way of life; Lot 47 · UpperFlowers added to brocade make its colors brighter still; Lot 48 · MiddleThe kun bird, in the autumn light, is changed into the peng; Lot 49 · MiddleAll your plans and schemes are like thin ice upon the stream; Lot 50 · MiddleOver five lakes and four seas you sail from shore to shore; Lot 51 · UpperThe first days of summer come, and the days are long and bright; Lot 52 · MiddleTo catch the moon in the water takes a world of pains; Lot 53 · MiddleDisappointment turns around into a time of pride; Lot 54 · LowerIn a dream you found a treasure, and on waking it was gone; Lot 55 · MiddleHanded down from age to age, the children sing its praise; Lot 56 · MiddleThe stream is small, the stones are rough, the water roars along; Lot 57 · MiddleHear right, hear wrong, let it pass like wind by the ear; Lot 58 · MiddleLoyal counsel, kindly words: keep them in your mind; Lot 59 · MiddleYou climb straight up the tower high to hide yourself away, Lot 60 · LowerYou carry firewood to put the fire out, and the smoke grows higher, Lot 61 · MiddleReciting poems by day, and singing under the moon, Lot 62 · MiddleMorning and evening, all depends upon the Buddha's aid; Lot 63 · MiddleLong ago, while sailing, you let a needle fall; Lot 64 · LowerLike a golden-scaled fish set free in the ripples of blue, Lot 65 · LowerThe joy before your eyes is not a joy that you should trust; Lot 66 · LowerThe road is steep, the horse plods on, the traveler is far away; Lot 67 · UpperA golden steelyard weighs the feelings in your breast: Lot 68 · MiddleThe house is clean and blessed, and dreams bring omens fair; Lot 69 · MiddleWinter comes, and on the ridge there stands one plum tree bare; Lot 70 · LowerDay after day you toil and bustle like a bee, Lot 71 · MiddleWho knew your love and favor would meet a forceful man? Lot 72 · MiddleIf you play with bees, it is their honey that you seek; Lot 73 · UpperThe thunder of spring wakes the insects hidden in the ground; Lot 74 · LowerA lazy wild crane flies into the cage all on its own; Lot 75 · MiddleIt is as if you carried a tiger past the mountain's face, Lot 76 · MiddleFish and dragons mingle, all alike in mind and mood; Lot 77 · MiddleTelling dreams within a dream, you win a pile of gold; Lot 78 · UpperCold water poured upon white snow in a spreading sea: Lot 79 · MiddleYou made a vow into the void to bind a bond with men; Lot 80 · UpperYou climbed straight up the mountain high to study the immortals' art; Lot 81 · UpperBefore the court the leaves are falling, late in autumn's day; Lot 82 · MiddleThe blazing fire leaps up and burns against the sky; Lot 83 · MiddleLike the moon on the third, fourth, fifth nights of the month, Lot 84 · LowerFor the sake of a name you lose your virtue and your peace; Lot 85 · MiddleBeyond the reopened hills the old affairs lie stored; Lot 86 · UpperSpring comes, the flowers open and shine upon the terrace fair; Lot 87 · MiddleHalfway up the ridge you walk, the sun sinks behind the hill; Lot 88 · MiddleA tiger carved of wood is standing in the mountain wood; Lot 89 · UpperGoing out and coming in, your plans are blessed and bright; Lot 90 · UpperOne morning, news comes down from heaven's very stair: Lot 91 · MiddleNow smooth away your worried brow and let it open wide; Lot 92 · UpperIn trade you profit, and your heart is well content; Lot 93 · MiddleThe phoenix's feathers droop beneath the weight of rain; Lot 94 · LowerTell the petty from the noble, the worthy from the fool; Lot 95 · MiddleCareer and merit gather up from morning into night; Lot 96 · UpperThe towering jeweled pagoda is no common sight to see; Lot 97 · MiddleMoonlight in the garden sets the sparse shadows swaying, Lot 98 · LowerIn trade, in going out and coming in, you waver and delay, Lot 99 · LowerAt ease you mount your horse and ride, and crack the whip along: Lot 100 · LowerYou want to go east, you want to go west;

A straight word: the lots are a matter of faith, and the plain meanings are ours

The original poems, shiyi, jieyue and counsel items follow the 100 Guanyin lots compiled by the Jieqian Ge (解籤閣) site, checked lot by lot against two other sources; temples differ slightly in wording and in grades. The English verse, the plain meanings and the tips are our own readings of the words on the page, not a temple's official interpretation. For a real reading, ask the temple where you drew the lot. For legal, medical or financial questions, see a professional, and if you feel unwell, see a doctor. Everything on this site is for reference and entertainment.

Beyond the lot: your own chart

Enter your birth date to cast your free BaZi Four Pillars chart and see your Five Elements and Ten Gods.

Cast a free BaZi chart → The Sixty Jiazi lots

Guanyin fortune sticks: common questions

How many Guanyin fortune sticks are there?

There are 100, numbered 1 to 100. In our base text 24 are upper lots, 58 middle lots and 18 lower lots; other editions differ slightly.

What is Guanyin lot 1?

Lot 1 is an upper lot: 「天開地闢結良緣，日吉時良萬事全，若得此籤非小可，人行中正帝王宣」. In our English: Heaven opens, earth unfolds, and a good bond is tied; the day is kind, the hour is right, and all things are supplied. To draw this lot is no small thing, so hold it in your hand: walk the straight and central road, and the throne will call you to stand. Its story is "Zhongli Quan Becomes an Immortal."

What should I do if I draw lot 100?

Lot 100 is the "full lot." The traditional advice is to hold steady in everything and do good works, and to draw once more to confirm.

What if I cannot understand my poem?

Ask the interpreters at the temple where you drew it. Every lot on this site also has a plain-English meaning you can use as a starting point.