Guanyin Fortune Stick 17 (Middle Lot)
"Do not listen to idle talk of right and wrong..." So opens lot 17 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
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
In English (our translation):
Do not listen to idle talk of right and wrong;
morning and evening, keep the Buddha's name your song.
If you take empty words and treat them as the truth,
how can a painted cake relieve your hunger, in good sooth?
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 17 | Middle lot (some editions: Lower) | Mao palace (卯宮) | Plums to Quench Thirst (話梅止渴) |
The story: Leading thirsty troops on a march, Cao Cao told them a grove of sour plums lay ahead; their mouths watered and they pressed on. The idea is comfort that is only imagined.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「莫聽閑言說是非，晨昏只好念阿彌，若將狂話為真實，書餅如何止得饑」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In the third line, some copies write 獎 for 將.
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 | 此卦書餅充饑之象。諸事多虛少實也。 | The image of a painted cake to relieve hunger. Much is empty and little is real. |
| Jieyue | 心中不定，枉看經文。恰似畫餅，食也難吞。 | With an unsettled heart, reading scripture is in vain. It is like a painted cake: even eaten, it is hard to swallow. |
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 | 祈福 | Pray for blessing |
| Yourself | 順利 | Smooth |
| Money | 順利 | Smooth |
| Deals and trade | 順利 | Smooth |
| Marriage | 阻 | Blocked |
| Pregnancy | 安 | Safe |
| Someone away from home | 遲 | Late |
| Crops and silkworms | 宜早種 | Plant early |
| Livestock | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 和 | Settle |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 不見 | Will not be found |
| Family graves | 吉 | Favorable |
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
Do not listen to gossip. Taking empty words as truth is like trying to fill your stomach with a picture of a cake.
A tip: Verify anything important before you believe it. Do not be led around by empty talk.
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 16. Next lot: Lot 18.
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 17: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 17 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot (some editions: Lower), Mao palace (卯宮), and its story is "Plums to Quench Thirst."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 17 say?
In Chinese: 「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」. In our English: Do not listen to idle talk of right and wrong; morning and evening, keep the Buddha's name your song. If you take empty words and treat them as the truth, how can a painted cake relieve your hunger, in good sooth?
What does Guanyin lot 17 mean?
Do not listen to gossip. Taking empty words as truth is like trying to fill your stomach with a picture of a cake. A tip: Verify anything important before you believe it. Do not be led around by empty talk.