Guanyin Fortune Stick 66 (Lower Lot)
"The road is steep, the horse plods on, the traveler is far away..." So opens lot 66 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
路險馬行人去遠
失群羊困虎相當
危灘船過風翻浪
春暮花殘天降霜
In English (our translation):
The road is steep, the horse plods on, the traveler is far away;
a lamb that has lost its flock meets the tiger on its way.
On dangerous rapids the boat goes by, the wind turns up the swell;
the spring is late, the flowers fade, and frost comes down as well.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 66 | Lower lot | Mao palace (卯宮) | The Hegemon Besieged (霸王被困) |
The story: Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, was surrounded at Gaixia and heard the songs of Chu from the enemy camp, a sign that all was lost.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「路險馬嬴人行急，失群軍卒困相當，灘高風浪船棹破，日暮花殘天降霜」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In version two, 嬴 means to carry on one's back, and 棹 is an oar.
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 | 此卦船破下灘之象。凡事險阻提防也。 | The image of a broken boat going down the rapids. Beware of danger and obstacles. |
| Jieyue | 守舊守舊。安靜無咎。不用求謀。自在優游。 | Keep to the old, keep to the old; be still and there is no blame. No need to scheme; be free and at ease. |
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 | 憂疑 | Worry and doubt |
| Yourself | 災耗 | Trouble and loss |
| Money | 破失 | Loss |
| Deals and trade | 敗 | Failing |
| Marriage | 不長 | Will not last |
| Pregnancy | 危險 | Dangerous |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 損 | Losses |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 杳 | No word |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 莫動 | Do not move |
| Lost items | 難 | Difficult |
| 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
A steep road and a tired horse, a lamb lost from the flock, a boat in wild water, flowers withering under frost: danger everywhere.
A tip: This is not the time to push for anything. Staying quiet is the safest course.
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 65. Next lot: Lot 67.
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 66: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 66 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Mao palace (卯宮), and its story is "The Hegemon Besieged."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 66 say?
In Chinese: 「路險馬行人去遠，失群羊困虎相當，危灘船過風翻浪，春暮花殘天降霜」. In our English: The road is steep, the horse plods on, the traveler is far away; a lamb that has lost its flock meets the tiger on its way. On dangerous rapids the boat goes by, the wind turns up the swell; the spring is late, the flowers fade, and frost comes down as well.
What does Guanyin lot 66 mean?
A steep road and a tired horse, a lamb lost from the flock, a boat in wild water, flowers withering under frost: danger everywhere. A tip: This is not the time to push for anything. Staying quiet is the safest course.