Guanyin Fortune Stick 84 (Lower Lot)

"For the sake of a name you lose your virtue and your peace..." So opens lot 84 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):

For the sake of a name you lose your virtue and your peace;
beware lest in your hurry, good turns bad and does not cease.
Drunk, you do not know where you have wandered, where you lie:
asleep in the pine tree's shadow, in a haze beneath the sky.

The story: In a folk tale, the philosopher Zhuangzi feigned death to test his wife's faithfulness; the story became a popular opera.

The other version

Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「因名喪德如何事，切恐吉中變化凶，酒醉不知何處去，青松影裏夢朦朧」. 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 counsel for this lot is not broken into items. It gives one overall verdict: 「此籤六甲煞旺，諸事不利，祈禳保安。」, which says: "In this lot the harmful influences are strong; nothing is favorable. Pray for protection and keep safe."

What it means in plain English

Losing your good name over a name, and falling out with others. In a rush things go wrong, and like a drunk you do not know where you are going.

A tip: Stay clear-headed when things get hectic, and keep your feet on the ground.

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 83. Next lot: Lot 85.