Guanyin Fortune Stick 80 (Upper Lot)

"You climbed straight up the mountain high to study the immortals' art..." So opens lot 80 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

In English (our translation):

You climbed straight up the mountain high to study the immortals' art;
who knew one day the emperor would summon you to play a part?
The blue sky and the white sun shine on you always, clear and bright;
your will is set on a name that spreads through the four seas' light.

The story: Liu Zhiyuan, a poor young man who left his wife to join the army, rose to found the Later Han dynasty; the story is told in the opera "The White Rabbit."

The other version

Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「直上仙岩要學仙，此知一旦帝王宣，青天日月常明照，心正聲名四海傳」. 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.

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.

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 meant to go up the mountain to study the ways of the immortals, and instead the emperor calls for you. Open and upright, your name spreads far.

A tip: When someone influential opens a door for you, take the chance without hesitation.

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

1. Light incense and tell Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, your name, birth date and address, then state one question clearly.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Previous lot: Lot 79. Next lot: Lot 81.