Guanyin Fortune Stick 64 (Lower Lot)
"Like a golden-scaled fish set free in the ripples of blue..." So opens lot 64 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
譬若金鱗放碧漪
暗遭羅網四邊圍
思量無計翻身出
命到泉關苦獨悲
In English (our translation):
Like a golden-scaled fish set free in the ripples of blue,
unseen, a net closes in on all four sides of you.
You think and think but find no way to turn and slip outside:
your fate has reached the gate of springs, and you grieve alone inside.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 64 | Lower lot | Mao palace (卯宮) | Spilled Water Before the Horse (馬前覆水) |
The story: Zhu Maichen's wife left him because he was poor. When he rose to high office she begged to return; he poured water on the ground before his horse and said it could not be gathered up again.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「游魚卻在碧波池，撞遭羅網四邊圍，思量無計番身出，事到頭來惹事非」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- 漪 is pronounced like 衣 (yi).
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 | 此卦魚遭羅網之象。凡事亦宜提防也。 | The image of a fish caught in a net. Be on guard in everything. |
| Jieyue | 屋下安身。禍從天降。早覺先防。免遭災殃。 | You take shelter under your own roof, and disaster falls from the sky. Notice it early and guard against it, and you will escape harm. |
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 | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Yourself | 險 | Risky |
| Money | 虛 | Little real gain |
| Deals and trade | 中平 | Middling |
| Marriage | 不合 | Not a match |
| Pregnancy | 驚 | A scare |
| Someone away from home | 有阻 | Obstacles |
| Crops and silkworms | 損 | Losses |
| Livestock | 衰 | Declining |
| Finding someone | 杳 | No word |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 吉 | Favorable |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 宜改 | Better to change |
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
A fish swimming freely in clear water finds itself surrounded by nets on all sides, with no way to turn and escape.
A tip: Take precautions even when things are calm. Seeing trouble early is how you avoid it.
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 63. Next lot: Lot 65.
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 64: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 64 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Mao palace (卯宮), and its story is "Spilled Water Before the Horse."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 64 say?
In Chinese: 「譬若金鱗放碧漪，暗遭羅網四邊圍，思量無計翻身出，命到泉關苦獨悲」. In our English: Like a golden-scaled fish set free in the ripples of blue, unseen, a net closes in on all four sides of you. You think and think but find no way to turn and slip outside: your fate has reached the gate of springs, and you grieve alone inside.
What does Guanyin lot 64 mean?
A fish swimming freely in clear water finds itself surrounded by nets on all sides, with no way to turn and escape. A tip: Take precautions even when things are calm. Seeing trouble early is how you avoid it.