Guanyin Fortune Stick 44 (Middle Lot)
"When chess meets its match, you must keep your moves concealed..." So opens lot 44 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
棋逢對手要藏機
黑白盤中未決時
到底欲知誰勝負
須教先著相機宜
In English (our translation):
When chess meets its match, you must keep your moves concealed;
the black and white upon the board are not yet sealed.
If in the end you want to know who wins and who will fall,
you must make the first move when it fits, and read it all.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 44 | Middle lot | Xu palace (戌宮) | Jiang Wei and Deng Ai Match Formations (姜維鄧艾鬥陣) |
The story: Jiang Wei of Shu and Deng Ai of Wei were rival generals who repeatedly tried to outmaneuver each other in the last years of the Three Kingdoms.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「棋逢敵手著相宜，黑白盤中未決時，皆因一著知勝敗，須教自有好推宜」. 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 | 此卦棋逢敵手之象。凡事用機關則吉也。 | The image of chess meeting its match. Strategy brings success. |
| Jieyue | 欲求心事。恰如圍棋。到底勝利。宜用心機。 | What your heart seeks is like a game of weiqi. In the end you win; use your wits. |
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 | 大利 | Very profitable |
| Yourself | 平穩 | Steady |
| Money | 遂 | As you wish |
| Deals and trade | 利 | Favorable |
| Marriage | 未合 | Not yet a match |
| Pregnancy | 女 | A girl |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 平 | Even |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 阻 | Blocked |
| Lawsuits | 宜和 | Better to settle |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 空 | Gone |
| Family graves | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
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
Like two evenly matched chess players with the game undecided, you need to keep your plans close and make the first good move.
A tip: Think one step ahead and take the initiative before you act.
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 43. Next lot: Lot 45.
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 44: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 44 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Xu palace (戌宮), and its story is "Jiang Wei and Deng Ai Match Formations."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 44 say?
In Chinese: 「棋逢對手要藏機，黑白盤中未決時，到底欲知誰勝負，須教先著相機宜」. In our English: When chess meets its match, you must keep your moves concealed; the black and white upon the board are not yet sealed. If in the end you want to know who wins and who will fall, you must make the first move when it fits, and read it all.
What does Guanyin lot 44 mean?
Like two evenly matched chess players with the game undecided, you need to keep your plans close and make the first good move. A tip: Think one step ahead and take the initiative before you act.