Guanyin Fortune Stick 41 (Middle Lot)
"Remember this, a thing of endless good for you to learn..." So opens lot 41 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
無限好事君須記
恰如認賊作為子
莫貪眼下有些甜
可慮他時還受苦
In English (our translation):
Remember this, a thing of endless good for you to learn:
you are like someone who adopts a thief as a son in turn.
Do not be greedy for the little sweetness in your hand:
think of the bitter days to come, and understand.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 41 | Middle lot | You palace (酉宮) | Dong Zhuo Adopts Lü Bu (董卓收呂布) |
The story: The warlord Dong Zhuo took the great fighter Lü Bu as his adopted son; Lü Bu later turned on him and killed him.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「無限好言君記取，卻為認賊將作子，莫貪眼下有些甜，更慮他年前樣看」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In version two, 看 is also written 施.
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 | 此卦認賊作子之象。凡事認真作假。 | The image of taking a thief as your son. You take the false for the true. |
| Jieyue | 只這一著。君子莫錯。牢記在心。不生寂寞。 | Just this one move; a wise person should not make a mistake. Keep it firmly in mind and you will not be left alone. |
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 | 不安 | Unsettled |
| Yourself | 平常 | Ordinary |
| Money | 守待 | Hold and wait |
| Deals and trade | 難 | Difficult |
| Marriage | 未合 | Not yet a match |
| Pregnancy | 男。驚 | A boy; a scare |
| Someone away from home | 至 | Will arrive |
| Crops and silkworms | 半熟 | Half a harvest |
| Livestock | 安 | Peaceful |
| Finding someone | 至 | Will arrive |
| Lawsuits | 宜和 | Better to settle |
| Moving | 祈保 | Pray for protection |
| Lost items | 難尋 | Hard to find |
| Family graves | 中平 | Middling |
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
Take this advice to heart: do not let a little sweetness now lead you to trust the wrong person, or you may suffer for it later.
A tip: Take time to know people. Do not be taken in by surface benefits.
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 40. Next lot: Lot 42.
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 41: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 41 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, You palace (酉宮), and its story is "Dong Zhuo Adopts Lü Bu."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 41 say?
In Chinese: 「無限好事君須記，恰如認賊作為子，莫貪眼下有些甜，可慮他時還受苦」. In our English: Remember this, a thing of endless good for you to learn: you are like someone who adopts a thief as a son in turn. Do not be greedy for the little sweetness in your hand: think of the bitter days to come, and understand.
What does Guanyin lot 41 mean?
Take this advice to heart: do not let a little sweetness now lead you to trust the wrong person, or you may suffer for it later. A tip: Take time to know people. Do not be taken in by surface benefits.