Guanyin Fortune Stick 16 (Middle Lot)
"The knitted brow and anxious thought for now can come undone..." So opens lot 16 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
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
In English (our translation):
The knitted brow and anxious thought for now can come undone;
the clouds part just a foot away, and out comes the sun.
You are like a piece of jade that lies in the dirty mud:
a master craftsman lifts it out of dust and flood.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 16 | Middle lot | Mao palace (卯宮) | Ye Mengxiong Goes to Court (葉夢熊朝帝) |
The story: Ye Mengxiong was a Ming-dynasty official whose ability, long overlooked, was finally recognized at court.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「愁眉思慮暫時開，啟出雲霄喜自來，宛如糞土中藏玉，良工薦舉出塵埃」. 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 | 此卦陰陽和合之象。凡所謀皆吉也。 | The image of yin and yang in harmony. All plans are favorable. |
| Jieyue | 得處無失。損中有益。小人逢凶。君子順吉。 | What you gain you will not lose; within the loss there is benefit. The petty meet misfortune; the noble go smoothly. |
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 | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Yourself | 秋冬吉 | Good in autumn and winter |
| Money | 成 | Will succeed |
| Deals and trade | 成 | Will succeed |
| Marriage | 成 | Will succeed |
| Pregnancy | 虛驚 | A false alarm |
| Someone away from home | 至 | Will arrive |
| Crops and silkworms | 祈福 | Pray for blessing |
| Livestock | 平 | Even |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 阻 | Blocked |
| Family graves | 安 | Peaceful |
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
You can unknit your brow now. Like jade pulled from the mud by a fine craftsman, the clouds are parting to show the sun.
A tip: When someone recognizes you, take the chance to show what you can do.
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 15. Next lot: Lot 17.
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 16: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 16 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Mao palace (卯宮), and its story is "Ye Mengxiong Goes to Court."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 16 say?
In Chinese: 「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」. In our English: The knitted brow and anxious thought for now can come undone; the clouds part just a foot away, and out comes the sun. You are like a piece of jade that lies in the dirty mud: a master craftsman lifts it out of dust and flood.
What does Guanyin lot 16 mean?
You can unknit your brow now. Like jade pulled from the mud by a fine craftsman, the clouds are parting to show the sun. A tip: When someone recognizes you, take the chance to show what you can do.