Guanyin Fortune Stick 79 (Middle Lot)
"You made a vow into the void to bind a bond with men..." So opens lot 79 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
虛空結愿結人緣
保得人安愿未還
得兔忘蹄真絕跡
敢將初誓謾輕瞞
In English (our translation):
You made a vow into the void to bind a bond with men;
they kept you safe, but you have not repaid the vow since then.
To get the hare and forget the snare is truly to lose the trace:
dare you lightly cheat the promise that you made in that place?
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 79 | Middle lot | Wu palace (午宮) | Secretly Helping Topple the Bronze Banner (暗扶倒銅旗) |
The story: In the Sui-Tang hero tales, Luo Cheng, serving on the enemy side, secretly helped his cousin Qin Qiong break the "Bronze Banner" battle array.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「虛空結願保平安，保得身安願不還，莫忘神聖宜還了，此知神語莫輕慢」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- Here 愿 carries the sense of honest and careful.
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 | 此卦信實莫信虛之。凡事守舊之兆也。 | The image of trusting what is real, not what is empty. Keeping to the old is indicated. |
| Jieyue | 人有我見。心不用忙。觀音指示。切莫輕慢。 | Others have their views, as you have yours; your heart need not rush. Guanyin shows you the way: do not treat it lightly. |
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 | 還願 | Fulfill your vows |
| Yourself | 許經 | Vow scripture recitation |
| Money | 守份 | Keep to your place |
| Deals and trade | 謹慎 | Be careful |
| Marriage | 虛 | Not solid |
| Pregnancy | 生女 | A girl |
| Someone away from home | 滯 | Stalled |
| Crops and silkworms | 七分 | Seventy percent of a harvest |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 杳 | No word |
| Lawsuits | 和 | Settle |
| Moving | 守 | Hold on |
| Lost items | 西方 | Look to the west |
| Family graves | 西向 | Toward the west |
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
You made a vow and have not yet fulfilled it. Now that you have what you wanted, do not forget the promise you made at the start.
A tip: Keep the promises you make. Being true to your word matters most.
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 78. Next lot: Lot 80.
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 79: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 79 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Wu palace (午宮), and its story is "Secretly Helping Topple the Bronze Banner."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 79 say?
In Chinese: 「虛空結愿結人緣，保得人安愿未還，得兔忘蹄真絕跡，敢將初誓謾輕瞞」. In our English: You made a vow into the void to bind a bond with men; they kept you safe, but you have not repaid the vow since then. To get the hare and forget the snare is truly to lose the trace: dare you lightly cheat the promise that you made in that place?
What does Guanyin lot 79 mean?
You made a vow and have not yet fulfilled it. Now that you have what you wanted, do not forget the promise you made at the start. A tip: Keep the promises you make. Being true to your word matters most.