Guanyin Fortune Stick 40 (Middle Lot)

"The red wheel sinks into the west, the hare climbs in the east..." So opens lot 40 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

In English (our translation):

The red wheel sinks into the west, the hare climbs in the east;
yin grows and yang recedes: two forms, and neither ceased.
If a woman draws this lot and asks about her part,
her fortune and her rank will grow, and gladden all her heart.

The story: Wu Zetian rose from palace consort to become the only woman in Chinese history to rule as emperor in her own name.

The other version

Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「紅輪西墜兔東昇，陰長陽消百事亨，是若女人宜望用，增添財祿福其心」. 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.

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.

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 sun sets and the moon rises; yin grows as yang wanes. Tradition reads this lot as more favorable for women, with fortune increasing.

A tip: Hard first, easy later. Do not let a rough start scare you off.

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

1. Light incense and tell Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, your name, birth date and address, then state one question clearly.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Previous lot: Lot 39. Next lot: Lot 41.