Guanyin Fortune Stick 82 (Middle Lot)

"The blazing fire leaps up and burns against the sky..." So opens lot 82 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):

The blazing fire leaps up and burns against the sky;
yet in the flames a lotus blooms and does not die.
Its root holds firm forever, and nothing can destroy;
its leaves and branches stay as fresh and green as joy.

The story: Zhuge Liang trapped Sima Yi in Gourd Valley and set it on fire, but a sudden downpour put out the flames and Sima Yi escaped.

The other version

Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「炎炎烈火焰連天，焰裏還生一朵蓮，到底得成終不害，依然生葉長根枝」. 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

A fire rages to the sky, yet a lotus blooms in the flames, its root unharmed, its leaves still fresh.

A tip: What looks dangerous has a way through. Hold on to what is at the root.

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 81. Next lot: Lot 83.