Guanyin Fortune Stick 24 (Lower Lot)
"No peace among the neighbors, no home that is a home..." So opens lot 24 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
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
In English (our translation):
No peace among the neighbors, no home that is a home;
a fool like bubbles on the water, a fallen flower's foam.
If you ask for favor from your lord, it gives you little strength:
in the end your affairs are tangled hemp at every length.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 24 | Lower lot | Si palace (巳宮) | Yin Jiao Meets His Master (殷郊遇師) |
The story: In "Investiture of the Gods," Yin Jiao, a son of the tyrant King Zhou, was rescued and trained by the immortal Guangchengzi, but later broke his vow and came to a bitter end.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「不成理論不成家，水性痴人似落花，若問君恩須得力，到頭方見事如麻」. 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 | 此卦痴人道塞之象。凡事守舊待時也。 | The image of a fool whose road is blocked. Keep to the old and wait for the time. |
| Jieyue | 是非莫說。必須仔細。心正理直。方免災危。 | Say nothing of right and wrong; you must be careful. With an upright heart and just reasons, you can avoid disaster. |
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 | 不安 | Unsettled |
| Yourself | 險 | Risky |
| Money | 阻 | Blocked |
| Deals and trade | 難 | Difficult |
| Marriage | 待時 | Wait for the time |
| Pregnancy | 祈福 | Pray for blessing |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 多災 | Much trouble |
| Livestock | 多災 | Much trouble |
| Finding someone | 阻 | Blocked |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 吉 | Favorable |
| Lost items | 難見 | Hard to find |
| Family graves | 不吉 | Unfavorable |
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
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.
A tip: Set the quarrels aside. An upright heart and sound reasons are what keep trouble away.
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 23. Next lot: Lot 25.
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 24: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 24 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Si palace (巳宮), and its story is "Yin Jiao Meets His Master."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 24 say?
In Chinese: 「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」. In our English: No peace among the neighbors, no home that is a home; a fool like bubbles on the water, a fallen flower's foam. If you ask for favor from your lord, it gives you little strength: in the end your affairs are tangled hemp at every length.
What does Guanyin lot 24 mean?
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. A tip: Set the quarrels aside. An upright heart and sound reasons are what keep trouble away.