Guanyin Fortune Stick 4 (Upper Lot)
"The broken mirror of water-chestnut flowers is whole once more..." So opens lot 4 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
菱花鏡破復重圓
女再求夫男再婚
自此門閭重改換
更添福祿與兒孫
In English (our translation):
The broken mirror of water-chestnut flowers is whole once more;
the woman seeks a husband, the man weds as before.
From now the gate and household take a fresh new face,
with fortune, rank and children added to the place.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 4 | Upper lot | Zi palace (子宮) | Qian Yulian Reunites with Wang Shipeng (玉蓮會十朋) |
The story: From the southern opera "The Thorn Hairpin" (荊釵記): the scholar Wang Shipeng and his wife Qian Yulian were driven apart by schemers and each thought the other dead, until they were finally reunited.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「千年古鏡復重圓，女再求夫男再婚，自此門庭重改換，更添福祿在兒孫」. 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 | 此卦串鏡重圓之象。凡事勞心有貴也。 | The image of a broken mirror made whole again. Things take effort, but there is honor in it. |
| Jieyue | 淘沙成金。騎龍踏虎。雖是勞心。于中有補。 | Panning sand to find gold; riding the dragon, treading on the tiger. Though it takes toil, there is gain within it. |
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 | 欠利 | Lacks profit |
| Yourself | 秋冬旺 | Strong in autumn and winter |
| Money | 秋冬旺 | Strong in autumn and winter |
| Deals and trade | 允 | Agreed |
| Marriage | 成 | Will succeed |
| Pregnancy | 祈保 | Pray for protection |
| Someone away from home | 至 | Will arrive |
| Crops and silkworms | 可養 | Can be raised |
| Livestock | 可養 | Can be raised |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 遲見 | Found late |
| 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
A broken mirror becomes whole again. What was parted can come together, the household takes on a new look, and the blessing carries on to the next generation.
A tip: When you start over, let go of old grudges.
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 3. Next lot: Lot 5.
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 4: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 4 a good or bad lot?
It is an upper lot, Zi palace (子宮), and its story is "Qian Yulian Reunites with Wang Shipeng."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 4 say?
In Chinese: 「菱花鏡破復重圓，女再求夫男再婚，自此門閭重改換，更添福祿與兒孫」. In our English: The broken mirror of water-chestnut flowers is whole once more; the woman seeks a husband, the man weds as before. From now the gate and household take a fresh new face, with fortune, rank and children added to the place.
What does Guanyin lot 4 mean?
A broken mirror becomes whole again. What was parted can come together, the household takes on a new look, and the blessing carries on to the next generation. A tip: When you start over, let go of old grudges.