Guanyin Fortune Stick 88 (Middle Lot)
"A tiger carved of wood is standing in the mountain wood..." So opens lot 88 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
木雕一虎在山林
遠望威容意不禁
縱說不妨終可謂
此身如入大江心
In English (our translation):
A tiger carved of wood is standing in the mountain wood;
seen from afar its fierce face stirs you more than it should.
Though they tell you there is nothing wrong, and you may say so too,
you feel as if you'd waded to the middle of a river through.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 88 | Middle lot | You palace (酉宮) | Pang Hong Fears Judge Bao (龐洪畏包公) |
The story: In Song-dynasty tales, the corrupt grand tutor Pang Hong was feared at court but lived in dread of the incorruptible Judge Bao.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「林為一虎在當門，須是有威不害人，分明說是無防事，憂惱遲疑恐驚心」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In version two, 林 is also written 木.
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 | 此卦林木虎有威之象。凡事虛驚少實也。 | The image of the tiger in the woods, fearsome to look at. A false alarm with little substance. |
| Jieyue | 爐頭點雪。似耳邊風。可宜作福。後吉前凶。 | Snow on a hot stove, like wind past the ear. It is good to do good works; bad first, good after. |
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 | 不安 | Unsettled |
| Yourself | 口舌 | Quarrels |
| Money | 小人 | Petty people |
| Deals and trade | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Marriage | 不合 | Not a match |
| Pregnancy | 虛險 | Seems risky, is not |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 損 | Losses |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 杳 | No word |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 凶 | Unfavorable |
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 tiger carved from wood looks fierce but cannot hurt anyone. Still, you feel uneasy, as if you were out in the middle of a great river.
A tip: Many scares turn out to be nothing. Do not frighten yourself.
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 87. Next lot: Lot 89.
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 88: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 88 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, You palace (酉宮), and its story is "Pang Hong Fears Judge Bao."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 88 say?
In Chinese: 「木雕一虎在山林，遠望威容意不禁，縱說不妨終可謂，此身如入大江心」. In our English: A tiger carved of wood is standing in the mountain wood; seen from afar its fierce face stirs you more than it should. Though they tell you there is nothing wrong, and you may say so too, you feel as if you'd waded to the middle of a river through.
What does Guanyin lot 88 mean?
A tiger carved from wood looks fierce but cannot hurt anyone. Still, you feel uneasy, as if you were out in the middle of a great river. A tip: Many scares turn out to be nothing. Do not frighten yourself.