Guanyin Fortune Stick 26 (Middle Lot)
"From high and low the reports come in, and all of it is air..." So opens lot 26 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
上下傳來事總虛
天邊接得一封書
書中許我功名事
直待終時亦是無
In English (our translation):
From high and low the reports come in, and all of it is air;
from the edge of the sky a letter comes into your care.
Inside, it promises you fame and honors and a post;
wait until the very end: it is nothing but a ghost.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 26 | Middle lot (some editions: Lower) | Si palace (巳宮) | Zhong Kui Attains the Dao (鍾馗得道) |
The story: Zhong Kui, a brilliant scholar, was denied top honors in the imperial exam because of his ugly face and died in protest; in death he became the demon-queller of folk religion.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「上下傳來事轉虛，天邊接得一封書，書中許我功名遂，直到終時亦是虛」. 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 | 此卦虛名之象。凡事虛多少實宜守舊也。 | The image of empty fame. Much is empty and little real; keep to the old. |
| Jieyue | 上下心煩。求閒不閒。欲望功名。守舊身安。 | Worried above and below; you seek leisure but find none. You hope for honors; keep to the old and you will be safe. |
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 | 安 | Peaceful |
| Money | 阻 | Blocked |
| Deals and trade | 不成 | Will not succeed |
| Marriage | 不成 | Will not succeed |
| Pregnancy | 女 | A girl |
| Someone away from home | 有信 | News will come |
| Crops and silkworms | 半熟 | Half a harvest |
| Livestock | 可養 | Can be raised |
| Finding someone | 西方 | Look to the west |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 難 | Difficult |
| 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
The news coming from all sides is mostly empty, and the honors you were promised may come to nothing in the end.
A tip: Do not pin all your hopes on promises. Stick to what you know 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 25. Next lot: Lot 27.
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 26: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 26 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot (some editions: Lower), Si palace (巳宮), and its story is "Zhong Kui Attains the Dao."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 26 say?
In Chinese: 「上下傳來事總虛，天邊接得一封書，書中許我功名事，直待終時亦是無」. In our English: From high and low the reports come in, and all of it is air; from the edge of the sky a letter comes into your care. Inside, it promises you fame and honors and a post; wait until the very end: it is nothing but a ghost.
What does Guanyin lot 26 mean?
The news coming from all sides is mostly empty, and the honors you were promised may come to nothing in the end. A tip: Do not pin all your hopes on promises. Stick to what you know you can do.