Guanyin Fortune Stick 65 (Lower Lot)
"The joy before your eyes is not a joy that you should trust..." So opens lot 65 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
眼前歡喜未為歡
危不危兮安不安
割肉成瘡因甚事
不如守舊得安全
In English (our translation):
The joy before your eyes is not a joy that you should trust;
danger that is not danger, safety that's not safe or just.
Why would you cut your own flesh to make a wound for this?
Better keep to the old, and stay safe from the abyss.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 65 | Lower lot | Mao palace (卯宮) | Sun Bin Traps Pang Juan (孫臏困龐涓) |
The story: Sun Bin, once crippled by his jealous classmate Pang Juan, later lured him into an ambush at Maling where Pang Juan died.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「眼前歡喜未為歡，亦不危時亦不安，割肉補瘡為甚事，不如守舊待時光」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In version two, 補瘡 is also written 成瘡.
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 | 此卦割肉成瘡之象。凡事只宜守舊待時。 | The image of cutting flesh and making a wound. Only keep to the old and wait for the time. |
| Jieyue | 知止則止。知寬自寬。割自身肉。疾痛一般。 | Know when to stop, and stop; know when to ease, and ease yourself. If you cut your own flesh, the pain is just the same. |
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 | 口舌 | Quarrels |
| Money | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Deals and trade | 小人 | Petty people |
| Marriage | 不長 | Will not last |
| Pregnancy | 有驚 | A scare |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 損 | Losses |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 招非 | Invites trouble |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 難尋 | Hard to find |
| Family graves | 不利 | Unfavorable |
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
The happiness in front of you may not be real, and it is hard to tell safe from unsafe. It is like cutting your own flesh to patch a wound: the cost outweighs the gain.
A tip: Keep to the old and wait. Do not make a decision that hurts yourself.
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 64. Next lot: Lot 66.
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 65: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 65 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Mao palace (卯宮), and its story is "Sun Bin Traps Pang Juan."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 65 say?
In Chinese: 「眼前歡喜未為歡，危不危兮安不安，割肉成瘡因甚事，不如守舊得安全」. In our English: The joy before your eyes is not a joy that you should trust; danger that is not danger, safety that's not safe or just. Why would you cut your own flesh to make a wound for this? Better keep to the old, and stay safe from the abyss.
What does Guanyin lot 65 mean?
The happiness in front of you may not be real, and it is hard to tell safe from unsafe. It is like cutting your own flesh to patch a wound: the cost outweighs the gain. A tip: Keep to the old and wait. Do not make a decision that hurts yourself.