Guanyin Fortune Stick 7 (Lower Lot)
"You rush and toil through danger piled on danger's head..." So opens lot 7 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
奔波役役重重險
帶水拖泥又渡山
更慮他方求別用
千山萬水未能還
In English (our translation):
You rush and toil through danger piled on danger's head,
dragging through the water, climbing hills ahead.
And worse, you think of going far to seek another trade:
a thousand hills and rivers wide, and no way home is made.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 7 | Lower lot (some editions: Upper) | Chou palace (丑宮) | Lady Su Flees Disaster (蘇娘走難) |
The story: A folk-opera story of a woman surnamed Su who had to flee her home and wander through hardship before she could return.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「奔波阻隔重重險，帶水拖坭去度山，更望他鄉求用事，千鄉萬里未回還」. 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 | 此卦拖泥帶水之象。凡事守舊則吉也。 | The image of trudging through water and mud. Keeping to the old ways is favorable. |
| Jieyue | 退身可得。進步為難。只宜守舊。莫望高攀。 | Stepping back you can gain; stepping forward is hard. Keep to the old; do not reach for the heights. |
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 | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Yourself | 祈福 | Pray for blessing |
| Money | 秋冬吉 | Good in autumn and winter |
| Deals and trade | 平平 | Average |
| Marriage | 祈福 | Pray for blessing |
| Pregnancy | 祈福 | Pray for blessing |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Livestock | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Finding someone | 難 | Difficult |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 吉 | Favorable |
| Lost items | 不見 | Will not be found |
| 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
Rushing and toiling, bogged down, with danger all along the road. If you go elsewhere to find a new way, you may not be able to turn back for a long time.
A tip: Holding on to what you have is safer now. Do not rush into a move or a change.
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 6. Next lot: Lot 8.
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 7: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 7 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot (some editions: Upper), Chou palace (丑宮), and its story is "Lady Su Flees Disaster."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 7 say?
In Chinese: 「奔波役役重重險，帶水拖泥又渡山，更慮他方求別用，千山萬水未能還」. In our English: You rush and toil through danger piled on danger's head, dragging through the water, climbing hills ahead. And worse, you think of going far to seek another trade: a thousand hills and rivers wide, and no way home is made.
What does Guanyin lot 7 mean?
Rushing and toiling, bogged down, with danger all along the road. If you go elsewhere to find a new way, you may not be able to turn back for a long time. A tip: Holding on to what you have is safer now. Do not rush into a move or a change.