Guanyin Fortune Stick 10 (Middle Lot)
"A priceless treasure lies within the chest at home..." So opens lot 10 in our translation. Below are the Chinese original, the full English, the story behind the poem, the traditional counsel and what it means in plain English.
The poem
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
In English (our translation):
A priceless treasure lies within the chest at home,
yet you go out to foreign lands to hunt for it and roam.
You are like someone with a lamp who goes to look for fire:
better to be still and quiet than to tire.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 10 | Middle lot | Yin palace (寅宮) | Pang Juan Views the Battle Array (龐涓觀陣) |
The story: Pang Juan, a Warring States general, envied his classmate Sun Bin and was repeatedly outwitted by Sun Bin's battle arrays.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「石藏無價玉和珍，只管他鄉外客尋，宛如持燈更覓火，不如收拾枉勞心」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
Shiyi and jieyue
The shiyi (詩意, "meaning of the poem") names the image in one line; the jieyue (解曰, "the reading") is a short four-character commentary.
| Item | Original | English |
|---|---|---|
| Shiyi | 此卦持燈覓火之象。凡事待時成就也。 | The image of holding a lamp while searching for fire. Things come to completion when the time is right. |
| Jieyue | 姻緣會遇。何事不成。須無限意。眼前是真。 | A fated meeting of marriage; what cannot be done? Do not let your wishes run without limit; what is before your eyes is real. |
Sacred counsel, item by item
The sacred counsel (聖意) gives a short verdict for each kind of question. Find the row that matches what you asked.
| Your question | Original | In English |
|---|---|---|
| Home and family | 欠利 | Lacks profit |
| Yourself | 安 | Peaceful |
| Money | 難 | Difficult |
| Deals and trade | 難 | Difficult |
| Marriage | 合 | A match |
| Pregnancy | 女 | A girl |
| Someone away from home | 動 | On the move |
| Crops and silkworms | 秋吉 | Good in autumn |
| Livestock | 難養 | Hard to raise |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 舊安 | Staying put is safe |
| Lost items | 難見 | Hard to find |
| Family graves | 中平 | Middling |
The traditional counsel also has an "Illness" item, which we do not list. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.
What it means in plain English
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.
A tip: Look at the resources you already have before reaching far for something else.
This is our reading of the words on the page. For how it applies to your own question, go by the temple where you drew the lot.
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.
Common misunderstandings
A lower lot means the thing will certainly fail.
A lower lot is usually a signal to pause, hold what you have, or change your approach. The same poem can mean different things for different questions.
You can keep drawing on the same question until you get an upper lot.
By custom you ask once per question. If you still have doubts, ask the temple for an interpretation, or ask again after some time has passed.
Previous lot: Lot 9. Next lot: Lot 11.
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.
Guanyin lot 10: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 10 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Yin palace (寅宮), and its story is "Pang Juan Views the Battle Array."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 10 say?
In Chinese: 「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」. In our English: A priceless treasure lies within the chest at home, yet you go out to foreign lands to hunt for it and roam. You are like someone with a lamp who goes to look for fire: better to be still and quiet than to tire.
What does Guanyin lot 10 mean?
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. A tip: Look at the resources you already have before reaching far for something else.