Guanyin Fortune Stick 74 (Lower Lot)
"A lazy wild crane flies into the cage all on its own..." So opens lot 74 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
慵飛野鶴自投籠
欲舉鵬霄落陷中
南北東西混障碍
此身憔悴恨無窮
In English (our translation):
A lazy wild crane flies into the cage all on its own;
it means to soar up to the clouds and falls in the pit of stone.
North and south and east and west are blocked on every side;
it wastes away, and endless regret is all it has inside.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 74 | Lower lot | Si palace (巳宮) | Qin's Three Commanders Captured (秦敗擒三帥) |
The story: In 627 BC a Qin army marching on Zheng was ambushed by Jin at the Xiao passes, and its three commanders were taken prisoner.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「似鵠飛來自入籠，欲得番身卻不通，南北東西都難出，此卦誠恐恨無穹」. 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 | 此卦似鵠投水(籠)之象。凡事多虛少實也。 | The image of a swan throwing itself into the water (or: into the cage). Much is empty and little real. |
| Jieyue | 進身可(不)得。退步為(不)能。低頭直去。悉在其中。 | Advancing you can (cannot) gain; retreating you are (not) able. Lower your head and go straight on; it is all within. |
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 | 困滯 | Stuck |
| Money | 小人 | Petty people |
| Deals and trade | 破耗 | Loss and waste |
| Marriage | 刑傷 | Friction and hurt |
| Pregnancy | 刑劫 | Trouble |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 缺 | Poor harvest |
| Livestock | 瘟 | Disease among the animals |
| Finding someone | 杳 | No word |
| Lawsuits | 禍 | Trouble |
| Moving | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 絕 | Very poor |
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 lazy crane walks into its own cage; it tries to soar and falls into a trap, blocked in every direction.
A tip: When you can neither advance nor retreat, keep your head down and do the job in front of you well.
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 73. Next lot: Lot 75.
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 74: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 74 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Si palace (巳宮), and its story is "Qin's Three Commanders Captured."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 74 say?
In Chinese: 「慵飛野鶴自投籠，欲舉鵬霄落陷中，南北東西混障碍，此身憔悴恨無窮」. In our English: A lazy wild crane flies into the cage all on its own; it means to soar up to the clouds and falls in the pit of stone. North and south and east and west are blocked on every side; it wastes away, and endless regret is all it has inside.
What does Guanyin lot 74 mean?
A lazy crane walks into its own cage; it tries to soar and falls into a trap, blocked in every direction. A tip: When you can neither advance nor retreat, keep your head down and do the job in front of you well.