Guanyin Fortune Stick 33 (Middle Lot)
"Beautiful jade is hidden in the stone at its core..." So opens lot 33 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
石藏美玉在中心
得指何須向外尋
直待高人來剖析
恰如靈雨滌煩襟
In English (our translation):
Beautiful jade is hidden in the stone at its core;
once shown the way, why search outside for more?
Wait until a master comes to split it and explain;
it will be like sacred rain that clears your heart of pain.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 33 | Middle lot | Wei palace (未宮) | Cheng Yaojin Recruits Xue Rengui (咬金聘仁貴) |
The story: In the Tang hero tales, the bluff general Cheng Yaojin spotted the unknown Xue Rengui and brought him into service.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「內藏無價寶和珍，得玉何須外界尋，不如等待高人識，寬心猶且更寬心」. 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 | 此卦藏玉內尋之象。凡事待時可也。 | The image of hidden jade to be sought within. Wait for the time and it will do. |
| Jieyue | 內藏金玉。不識外尋。遇貴指引。不須勞心。 | Gold and jade are hidden within; not knowing it, you search outside. A noble helper points the way; no need to trouble your heart. |
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 | 遲 | Late |
| Marriage | 就 | Will come off |
| Pregnancy | 男 | A boy |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 半熟 | Half a harvest |
| Livestock | 旺 | Thriving |
| Finding someone | 勞 | Takes effort |
| Lawsuits | 擱 | Shelved |
| Moving | 吉 | Favorable |
| Lost items | 北方 | Look to the north |
| Family graves | 宜改 | Better to change |
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 fine jade is already in your own heart; you need not look outside. Wait for someone wise to point it out, and everything will become clear.
A tip: Look inward. The answer is often already in you.
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 32. Next lot: Lot 34.
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 33: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 33 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Wei palace (未宮), and its story is "Cheng Yaojin Recruits Xue Rengui."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 33 say?
In Chinese: 「石藏美玉在中心，得指何須向外尋，直待高人來剖析，恰如靈雨滌煩襟」. In our English: Beautiful jade is hidden in the stone at its core; once shown the way, why search outside for more? Wait until a master comes to split it and explain; it will be like sacred rain that clears your heart of pain.
What does Guanyin lot 33 mean?
The fine jade is already in your own heart; you need not look outside. Wait for someone wise to point it out, and everything will become clear. A tip: Look inward. The answer is often already in you.