Guanyin Fortune Stick 45 (Upper Lot)
"Gentleness and softness surely overcome the hard and strong..." So opens lot 45 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
溫柔自是勝強剛
積善于門太吉昌
若是有人占此卦
宛如止渴遇瓊漿
In English (our translation):
Gentleness and softness surely overcome the hard and strong;
a house that stores up goodness will be lucky all along.
If anyone should draw this lot and ask what it may bring,
it's like a thirsty traveler who finds a precious spring.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 45 | Upper lot | Xu palace (戌宮) | Emperor Renzong Recognizes His Mother (仁宗認母) |
The story: The Song emperor Renzong grew up not knowing his real mother, the wronged consort Li; when the truth came out he honored her as empress dowager.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「溫柔自古勝剛強，積善之門大吉昌，若是有人占此卦，宛如正渴遇瑤漿」. 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 | 此卦積善溫柔之象。凡事貴人和合也。 | The image of goodness and gentleness. Noble helpers and harmony. |
| Jieyue | 天地有感。應驗非常。佛神護佑。得之莫忘。 | Heaven and earth are moved; the response is remarkable. The buddhas and gods protect you; do not forget it once you have 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 | 吉 | Favorable |
| Yourself | 安 | Peaceful |
| Money | 遂 | As you wish |
| Deals and trade | 利 | Favorable |
| Marriage | 合 | A match |
| Pregnancy | 男 | A boy |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 秋利 | Good in autumn |
| Livestock | 中平 | Middling |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 勝 | You win |
| Moving | 利 | Favorable |
| Lost items | 東方 | Look to the east |
| Family graves | 東西向吉 | Facing east or west is 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
Gentleness wins over force, and a household that does good has great fortune. It is like finding sweet water when you are parched.
A tip: Soft beats hard. Let a good temper settle the problem.
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 44. Next lot: Lot 46.
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 45: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 45 a good or bad lot?
It is an upper lot, Xu palace (戌宮), and its story is "Emperor Renzong Recognizes His Mother."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 45 say?
In Chinese: 「溫柔自是勝強剛，積善于門太吉昌，若是有人占此卦，宛如止渴遇瓊漿」. In our English: Gentleness and softness surely overcome the hard and strong; a house that stores up goodness will be lucky all along. If anyone should draw this lot and ask what it may bring, it's like a thirsty traveler who finds a precious spring.
What does Guanyin lot 45 mean?
Gentleness wins over force, and a household that does good has great fortune. It is like finding sweet water when you are parched. A tip: Soft beats hard. Let a good temper settle the problem.