Guanyin Fortune Stick 52 (Middle Lot)
"To catch the moon in the water takes a world of pains..." So opens lot 52 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
水中捉月費工夫
費盡功夫卻又無
莫信閑言併浪論
枉拋心力也難圖
In English (our translation):
To catch the moon in the water takes a world of pains;
you spend your every effort and nothing then remains.
Do not believe the idle talk and wild words people say:
you throw your heart and strength away, and still it slips away.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 52 | Middle lot (some editions: Lower) | Zi palace (子宮) | Li Bai Reaches for the Moon, Drunk (太白醉撈明月) |
The story: Legend has it that the Tang poet Li Bai, drunk in a boat, leaned out to embrace the moon's reflection in the river and fell in.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「水中捉月費功夫，費盡功夫卻又無，莫說閑言并亂語，枉勞心力強身枯」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In version two, 身枯 originally read 身孤.
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 | 此卦貪求費力之象。凡事勞心費力也。 | The image of greedy seeking that wastes effort. Everything costs heart and strength. |
| Jieyue | 言諾難思。費力勞心。宅中憂慮。等遇貴人。 | Promises are hard to count on; you spend strength and worry. There is anxiety at home; wait until you meet a noble helper. |
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 | 欠吉 | Not quite favorable |
| Money | 中平 | Middling |
| Deals and trade | 難 | Difficult |
| Marriage | 未就 | Not yet |
| Pregnancy | 祈保 | Pray for protection |
| Someone away from home | 有災 | Some trouble |
| Crops and silkworms | 五分 | Half a harvest |
| Livestock | 衰 | Declining |
| Finding someone | 至 | Will arrive |
| Lawsuits | 和 | Settle |
| Moving | 平常 | Ordinary |
| Lost items | 難 | Difficult |
| 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
Trying to scoop the moon out of the water: after all that work, there is nothing in your hands. Do not believe loose talk, and do not waste your heart on it.
A tip: Check whether the goal is real before deciding how much to put in.
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 51. Next lot: Lot 53.
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 52: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 52 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot (some editions: Lower), Zi palace (子宮), and its story is "Li Bai Reaches for the Moon, Drunk."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 52 say?
In Chinese: 「水中捉月費工夫，費盡功夫卻又無，莫信閑言併浪論，枉拋心力也難圖」. In our English: To catch the moon in the water takes a world of pains; you spend your every effort and nothing then remains. Do not believe the idle talk and wild words people say: you throw your heart and strength away, and still it slips away.
What does Guanyin lot 52 mean?
Trying to scoop the moon out of the water: after all that work, there is nothing in your hands. Do not believe loose talk, and do not waste your heart on it. A tip: Check whether the goal is real before deciding how much to put in.