Guanyin Fortune Stick 5 (Middle Lot)
"You dig into the ground with a hoe to look for a spring..." So opens lot 5 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
一鋤掘地要求泉
努力求之得最先
無意俄然遇知己
相逢攜手上青天
In English (our translation):
You dig into the ground with a hoe to look for a spring;
work at it with all your strength and you'll be first to drink.
Then out of nowhere you meet a friend who knows your heart,
and hand in hand the two of you rise to the sky's blue part.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 5 | Middle lot | Chou palace (丑宮) | Liu Chen Meets the Immortals (劉晨遇仙) |
The story: Liu Chen and Ruan Zhao went into the Tiantai Mountains to gather herbs, met two immortal women and stayed with them. When they went home, seven generations had passed.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「一錐草地要求泉，努力求之得最難，無意俄然遇知己，相逢攜手上青天」. 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 | 此卦錐地求泉之象。凡事先難后易也。 | The image of boring into the ground for a spring. Hard at first, easier later. |
| Jieyue | 欲望心事。西方可求。不如莫動。立地可謀。 | For what your heart desires, you may seek it in the west. Better still, do not move; right where you stand, you can make your plans. |
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 | 祈福 | Pray for blessing |
| Yourself | 利 | Favorable |
| Money | 利 | Favorable |
| Deals and trade | 合 | Agreement reached |
| Marriage | 合 | A match |
| Pregnancy | 安 | Safe |
| Someone away from home | 遲 | Late |
| Crops and silkworms | 宜早種 | Plant early |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 宜和 | Better to settle |
| Moving | 吉 | Favorable |
| Lost items | 不見 | Will not be found |
| 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
Digging for water with a hoe: if you put in the work, you get there first, and along the way you may unexpectedly meet someone who understands you and rise together.
A tip: Hard first, easy later. Do not give up at the first hurdle.
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 4. Next lot: Lot 6.
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 5: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 5 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Chou palace (丑宮), and its story is "Liu Chen Meets the Immortals."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 5 say?
In Chinese: 「一鋤掘地要求泉，努力求之得最先，無意俄然遇知己，相逢攜手上青天」. In our English: You dig into the ground with a hoe to look for a spring; work at it with all your strength and you'll be first to drink. Then out of nowhere you meet a friend who knows your heart, and hand in hand the two of you rise to the sky's blue part.
What does Guanyin lot 5 mean?
Digging for water with a hoe: if you put in the work, you get there first, and along the way you may unexpectedly meet someone who understands you and rise together. A tip: Hard first, easy later. Do not give up at the first hurdle.