Guanyin Fortune Stick 9 (Upper Lot)
"You toil to ask me of the matter in your mind..." So opens lot 9 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
勞苦問我心中事
此意偏宜說向公
一片靈臺明似鏡
恰如明月正當空
In English (our translation):
You toil to ask me of the matter in your mind:
then speak it plainly out, to the one who judges fair and kind.
A heart of spirit, clear and bright as any mirror's face,
is like the full moon hanging in the middle of heaven's space.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 9 | Upper lot (some editions: Middle) | Yin palace (寅宮) | Kongming Assigns His Generals (孔明點將) |
The story: Zhuge Liang (styled Kongming), the Shu strategist of the Three Kingdoms, was famous for sending each general exactly where he was needed.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「煩君勿作私心事，此意偏宜說問公，一片明心光皎潔，宛如皎月正天中」. 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.
| Item | Original | English |
|---|---|---|
| Shiyi | 此卦皎月當空之象。凡事光明通氣也。 | The image of the bright moon in mid-sky. Everything is open and clear. |
| Jieyue | 心中正直。理順法寬。聖無私語。終有分明。 | The heart is upright; reason flows and the law is lenient. The sage speaks no private word; in the end all becomes clear. |
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 | 吉 | Favorable |
| Yourself | 順 | Smooth |
| Money | 中平 | Middling |
| Deals and trade | 旺 | Thriving |
| Marriage | 成 | Will succeed |
| Pregnancy | 男 | A boy |
| Someone away from home | 動 | On the move |
| Crops and silkworms | 利 | Favorable |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 至 | Will arrive |
| Lawsuits | 有理 | You are in the right |
| Moving | 吉 | Favorable |
| Lost items | 祈福 | Pray for blessing |
| Family graves | 吉 | Favorable |
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
What is on your mind can be said plainly. A heart like a clear mirror, like the moon in an open sky, leaves nothing hidden.
A tip: Talk things through and make them clear rather than keeping them bottled up.
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 8. Next lot: Lot 10.
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 9: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 9 a good or bad lot?
It is an upper lot (some editions: Middle), Yin palace (寅宮), and its story is "Kongming Assigns His Generals."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 9 say?
In Chinese: 「勞苦問我心中事，此意偏宜說向公，一片靈臺明似鏡，恰如明月正當空」. In our English: You toil to ask me of the matter in your mind: then speak it plainly out, to the one who judges fair and kind. A heart of spirit, clear and bright as any mirror's face, is like the full moon hanging in the middle of heaven's space.
What does Guanyin lot 9 mean?
What is on your mind can be said plainly. A heart like a clear mirror, like the moon in an open sky, leaves nothing hidden. A tip: Talk things through and make them clear rather than keeping them bottled up.