Guanyin Fortune Stick 31 (Middle Lot)
"Sit in quiet, idle and with nothing on your mind..." So opens lot 31 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
清閑無事靜處坐
飢時吃飯困時臥
放下身心不用忙
必定不遭殃與禍
In English (our translation):
Sit in quiet, idle and with nothing on your mind;
eat when you are hungry, sleep when you are so inclined.
Set down body and heart; there is no need to rush:
then trouble and disaster will not reach you in the hush.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 31 | Middle lot | Wei palace (未宮) | Foyin Meets Su Dongpo (佛印會東坡) |
The story: The Song poet Su Dongpo and his friend the monk Foyin were famous for trading witty remarks; the monk usually had the last word.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「清閑無憂靜處儈，飽后吃茶時坐臥，汝下身心不用忙，必定不招冤與禍」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In version two, 儈 is used for 會.
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 | 此卦守舊安然之象。凡事時待時則吉也。 | The image of keeping to the old and being at peace. Wait for the time and it goes well. |
| Jieyue | 守舊安然。叩問神仙。直待時來。事亦偶然。 | Keep to the old and be at peace; ask the immortals. Wait until the time comes; things happen of their own accord. |
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 | 祈保 | Pray for protection |
| Yourself | 安 | Peaceful |
| Money | 守待 | Hold and wait |
| Deals and trade | 宜遲 | Better later |
| Marriage | 合 | A match |
| Pregnancy | 女 | A girl |
| Someone away from home | 至 | Will arrive |
| Crops and silkworms | 秋熟 | Harvest in autumn |
| Livestock | 穩 | Steady |
| Finding someone | 難 | Difficult |
| Lawsuits | 和 | Settle |
| Moving | 吉 | Favorable |
| Lost items | 虛 | Hard to recover |
| 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
Idle and at ease, eating when hungry and sleeping when tired. Put down your burdens and stop rushing, and trouble will not find you.
A tip: An ordinary, steady mind is your best protection.
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 30. Next lot: Lot 32.
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 31: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 31 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Wei palace (未宮), and its story is "Foyin Meets Su Dongpo."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 31 say?
In Chinese: 「清閑無事靜處坐，飢時吃飯困時臥，放下身心不用忙，必定不遭殃與禍」. In our English: Sit in quiet, idle and with nothing on your mind; eat when you are hungry, sleep when you are so inclined. Set down body and heart; there is no need to rush: then trouble and disaster will not reach you in the hush.
What does Guanyin lot 31 mean?
Idle and at ease, eating when hungry and sleeping when tired. Put down your burdens and stop rushing, and trouble will not find you. A tip: An ordinary, steady mind is your best protection.