Guanyin Fortune Stick 22 (Upper Lot)

"The fields in all four quarters are parched and cracked and dry..." So opens lot 22 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

In English (our translation):

The fields in all four quarters are parched and cracked and dry;
after the long drought, three days of rain fall from the sky.
The flowers, fruit and grasses all are moistened through:
now you know one rain is worth a thousand gold to you.

The story: Yang Yanzhao, the "sixth son" of the Yang family generals of the Song, was surrounded by enemy forces and rescued just in time.

The other version

Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「旱時田裏皆枯槁，謝天甘雨落淋淋，花果草木皆潤澤，始知一雨值千金」. 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.

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.

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

Sweet rain after a long drought. Everything is revived, and you realize how much this one rain is worth.

A tip: Rescue comes in hard times. Do not give up hope when you are struggling.

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

1. Light incense and tell Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, your name, birth date and address, then state one question clearly.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Previous lot: Lot 21. Next lot: Lot 23.