Guanyin Fortune Stick 87 (Middle Lot)
"Halfway up the ridge you walk, the sun sinks behind the hill..." So opens lot 87 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
人行半嶺日啣山
峻險巉巖未可攀
仰望上天垂護佑
此身猶在太虛間
In English (our translation):
Halfway up the ridge you walk, the sun sinks behind the hill;
steep and jagged are the crags, too hard to climb at will.
Look up and pray that heaven above will guard you as you go:
your body still hangs in the void, between the heights and below.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 87 | Middle lot | Shen palace (申宮) | Cheng Yaojin Explores the Underground Cave (咬金探地穴) |
The story: In the Sui-Tang hero tales, the bold Cheng Yaojin was lowered into a deep cave to explore it and came out with a strange adventure and newfound fortune.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「人行半嶺日西山，竣嶺崖岩未可安，仰望上天為護佑，此身猶在太平間」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- 巉 is pronounced like 蟬 (chan).
- In version two, 西 is also written 啣; the original character is unclear.
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 | 此卦淘沙見金之象。凡事有貴人之兆也。 | The image of panning sand to find gold. A sign of noble helpers. |
| Jieyue | 鑿石見玉。淘沙見金。須要著力。只是勞心。 | Cut the stone to find the jade; pan the sand to find the gold. You must put in effort; it will only take heart and toil. |
| Other editions | 此卦人處險境之象。凡事有貴人之兆也。 | Another edition gives the shiyi as: "The image of a person in a dangerous place. A sign of noble helpers." |
| Other editions | 困厄之境。無處安身。求神庇佑。祈可放心。 | Another edition gives the jieyue as: "In a place of hardship, with nowhere to rest. Ask the gods for protection, and you may set your heart at ease." |
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 | 祈福 | Pray for blessing |
| Yourself | 欠利 | Lacks profit |
| Money | 勞心 | Worrying |
| Deals and trade | 謹慎 | Be careful |
| Marriage | 有阻 | Obstacles |
| Pregnancy | 虛 | Uncertain |
| Someone away from home | 遲 | Late |
| Crops and silkworms | 平穩 | Steady |
| Livestock | 平穩 | Steady |
| Finding someone | 未遇 | Not yet met |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守 | Hold on |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 不阻 | No obstacles |
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
Halfway up the mountain with the sun going down and steep crags ahead, you look up and ask heaven for protection, suspended in midair.
A tip: When you are stuck halfway, first make yourself secure, then push on.
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 86. Next lot: Lot 88.
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 87: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 87 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Shen palace (申宮), and its story is "Cheng Yaojin Explores the Underground Cave."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 87 say?
In Chinese: 「人行半嶺日啣山，峻險巉巖未可攀，仰望上天垂護佑，此身猶在太虛間」. In our English: Halfway up the ridge you walk, the sun sinks behind the hill; steep and jagged are the crags, too hard to climb at will. Look up and pray that heaven above will guard you as you go: your body still hangs in the void, between the heights and below.
What does Guanyin lot 87 mean?
Halfway up the mountain with the sun going down and steep crags ahead, you look up and ask heaven for protection, suspended in midair. A tip: When you are stuck halfway, first make yourself secure, then push on.