Guanyin Fortune Stick 8 (Upper Lot)
"The pine and cypress of the cold year, planted long ago..." So opens lot 8 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
歲寒松柏古栽培
雨雪風霜總不摧
異日必當成大用
功名作個棟樑材
In English (our translation):
The pine and cypress of the cold year, planted long ago,
are never broken by the rain, the frost, the wind or snow.
One day they will surely be put to some great use:
honor and fame will make of you the ridgepole of the house.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 8 | Upper lot | Chou palace (丑宮) | Yao Neng Meets an Immortal (姚能遇仙) |
The story: A folk tale of a man named Yao Neng whose steady virtue was rewarded when he met an immortal.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「茂林松柏正興旺，雨雪風霜總莫為，異日忽然成大用，功名成就棟樑材」. 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 | 此卦松柏茂林之象。凡事有貴氣也。 | The image of a thick grove of pine and cypress. There is noble fortune in everything. |
| Jieyue | 路上亨通。終身有功。田蠶豐熟。家道興隆。 | The road ahead runs clear; there is merit all your life. Crops and silkworms ripen well; the household prospers. |
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 | 吉 | Favorable |
| Yourself | 順利 | Smooth |
| Money | 中平 | Middling |
| Deals and trade | 旺 | Thriving |
| Marriage | 成 | Will succeed |
| Pregnancy | 男 | A boy |
| Someone away from home | 有信 | News will come |
| Crops and silkworms | 利 | Favorable |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 至 | Will arrive |
| Lawsuits | 有理 | You are in the right |
| Moving | 吉 | Favorable |
| Lost items | 見 | Will be found |
| Family graves | 吉 | Favorable |
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
Pines and cypresses in the cold season stand up to wind and frost. Long tended, they will one day become the main beams of a great house.
A tip: Achievement is ground out over time. If you can endure, you will see the result.
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 7. Next lot: Lot 9.
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 8: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 8 a good or bad lot?
It is an upper lot, Chou palace (丑宮), and its story is "Yao Neng Meets an Immortal."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 8 say?
In Chinese: 「歲寒松柏古栽培，雨雪風霜總不摧，異日必當成大用，功名作個棟樑材」. In our English: The pine and cypress of the cold year, planted long ago, are never broken by the rain, the frost, the wind or snow. One day they will surely be put to some great use: honor and fame will make of you the ridgepole of the house.
What does Guanyin lot 8 mean?
Pines and cypresses in the cold season stand up to wind and frost. Long tended, they will one day become the main beams of a great house. A tip: Achievement is ground out over time. If you can endure, you will see the result.