Guanyin Fortune Stick 3 (Lower Lot)
"Through wind and rain you go and come and go again..." So opens lot 3 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
衝風冒雨去還歸
役役勞身似燕兒
啣得泥來呈疊後
到頭疊壞復成泥
In English (our translation):
Through wind and rain you go and come and go again,
toiling like a swallow in the endless round of pain.
You carry mud in your beak and build the nest up high,
and in the end the nest falls in and mud is all that's nigh.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 3 | Lower lot | Zi palace (子宮) | Dong Yong Sells Himself (董永賣身) |
The story: Dong Yong, a filial son of the Han dynasty, sold himself into service to pay for his father's burial. A heavenly maiden married him and wove silk to pay off his debt.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「臨風冒雨去還鄉，正是其身似燕兒，啣得坭來欲作壘，到頭壘壞復須泥」. 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 | 此卦燕子啣坭之象。凡事勞心費力也。 | The image of a swallow carrying mud. Everything costs heart and effort. |
| Jieyue | 千般用計。晨昏不停。誰知此事。到底勞心。 | A thousand schemes, morning and evening without rest. Who knew this matter would weigh on your mind to the very end? |
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 | 先凶后吉 | Bad first, good after |
| Yourself | 謹防 | Be on guard |
| Money | 有 | There is some |
| Deals and trade | 成 | Will succeed |
| Marriage | 不合 | Not a match |
| Pregnancy | 男 | A boy |
| Someone away from home | 吉 | Favorable |
| Crops and silkworms | 利 | Favorable |
| Livestock | 利 | Favorable |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 有理 | You are in the right |
| Moving | 安 | Peaceful |
| Lost items | 見 | Will 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
Like a swallow carrying mud through wind and rain to build a nest that keeps collapsing, you work hard but the results do not easily stay.
A tip: Think through the method before you start, instead of redoing the same work by brute force.
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 2. Next lot: Lot 4.
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 3: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 3 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Zi palace (子宮), and its story is "Dong Yong Sells Himself."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 3 say?
In Chinese: 「衝風冒雨去還歸，役役勞身似燕兒，啣得泥來呈疊後，到頭疊壞復成泥」. In our English: Through wind and rain you go and come and go again, toiling like a swallow in the endless round of pain. You carry mud in your beak and build the nest up high, and in the end the nest falls in and mud is all that's nigh.
What does Guanyin lot 3 mean?
Like a swallow carrying mud through wind and rain to build a nest that keeps collapsing, you work hard but the results do not easily stay. A tip: Think through the method before you start, instead of redoing the same work by brute force.