Guanyin Fortune Stick 50 (Middle Lot)
"Over five lakes and four seas you sail from shore to shore..." So opens lot 50 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
五湖四海盡行船
高掛風帆把舵堅
幸得順風隨所至
滿船寶貝稱心田
In English (our translation):
Over five lakes and four seas you sail from shore to shore;
hoist the sail high, hold the rudder firm as before.
By good fortune a fair wind carries you where you would go,
and your ship is full of treasure, as your heart would have it so.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 50 | Middle lot | Hai palace (亥宮) | Tao Zhu Retires to the Five Lakes (陶朱歸五湖) |
The story: Fan Li helped the King of Yue win back his kingdom, then left office, sailed off on the Five Lakes, and became the rich merchant known as Tao Zhu Gong.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「五湖四海任君行，高掛帆蓬自在撐，若得順風隨即至，滿船寶貝喜層層」. 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 | 此卦順風撐船之象。凡事皆順大吉也。 | The image of sailing with the wind. Everything goes smoothly, with great fortune. |
| Jieyue | 自在休悠。不須著力。財祿重重。無不欣美。 | Free and at leisure, no need to strain. Wealth and rank come layer on layer; nothing is less than pleasing. |
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 | 利 | Favorable |
| Yourself | 吉 | Favorable |
| Money | 利西 | West is favorable |
| Deals and trade | 宜遲 | Better later |
| Marriage | 不合 | Not a match |
| Pregnancy | 安 | Safe |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 秋利 | Good in autumn |
| Livestock | 春旺 | Strong in spring |
| Finding someone | 至 | Will arrive |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 西方 | Look to the west |
| Family graves | 南利 | South 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
Sailing the five lakes and four seas, sail high and rudder steady, with a following wind: you come home fully laden.
A tip: With the wind at your back, keep an even firmer grip on the rudder.
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 49. Next lot: Lot 51.
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 50: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 50 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Hai palace (亥宮), and its story is "Tao Zhu Retires to the Five Lakes."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 50 say?
In Chinese: 「五湖四海盡行船，高掛風帆把舵堅，幸得順風隨所至，滿船寶貝稱心田」. In our English: Over five lakes and four seas you sail from shore to shore; hoist the sail high, hold the rudder firm as before. By good fortune a fair wind carries you where you would go, and your ship is full of treasure, as your heart would have it so.
What does Guanyin lot 50 mean?
Sailing the five lakes and four seas, sail high and rudder steady, with a following wind: you come home fully laden. A tip: With the wind at your back, keep an even firmer grip on the rudder.