Guanyin Fortune Stick 34 (Middle Lot)
"Coming and going, at rest or out, courteous and fair..." So opens lot 34 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
出入行藏禮義恭
言必忠良聽必聰
心下了然俱洞徹
光明如日正當空
In English (our translation):
Coming and going, at rest or out, courteous and fair,
your words are loyal and good, your hearing sharp and clear.
Within, your heart sees everything and understands it right,
as bright as the sun at noon in the middle of the sky's light.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 34 | Middle lot (some editions: Upper) | Wei palace (未宮) | The Oath of the Peach Garden (桃園結義) |
The story: Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei swore brotherhood in a peach garden, the most famous oath of loyalty in Chinese storytelling.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「行藏出入禮義恭，言必忠良信必從，心不了然且靜澈，光明紅日正當中」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In version two, 從 in the second line originally read 聰.
- One reading changes that line to 矢必忠良志必同.
- Another reading has 空 for 中 in the last line.
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 | 此卦紅日當空正照之象。凡事遂意也。 | The image of the red sun shining straight from mid-sky. Things go as you wish. |
| Jieyue | 心中無事。秋水澄清。不須疑惑。事自然成。 | No trouble in the heart, clear as autumn water. There is no need to doubt; things will come about naturally. |
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 | 清吉 | Clear and favorable |
| Yourself | 安 | Peaceful |
| Money | 虛 | Little real gain |
| Deals and trade | 難 | Difficult |
| Marriage | 合 | A match |
| Pregnancy | 有險 | Some risk |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Livestock | 衰 | Declining |
| Finding someone | 滯 | Stalled |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 虛 | Hard to recover |
| Family graves | 大吉 | Very 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
Courteous in conduct, loyal in speech, sharp of hearing and clear of mind: open and upright like the noon sun.
A tip: A straight heart makes things clear. Keep to the principles you already hold.
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 33. Next lot: Lot 35.
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 34: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 34 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot (some editions: Upper), Wei palace (未宮), and its story is "The Oath of the Peach Garden."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 34 say?
In Chinese: 「出入行藏禮義恭，言必忠良聽必聰，心下了然俱洞徹，光明如日正當空」. In our English: Coming and going, at rest or out, courteous and fair, your words are loyal and good, your hearing sharp and clear. Within, your heart sees everything and understands it right, as bright as the sun at noon in the middle of the sky's light.
What does Guanyin lot 34 mean?
Courteous in conduct, loyal in speech, sharp of hearing and clear of mind: open and upright like the noon sun. A tip: A straight heart makes things clear. Keep to the principles you already hold.