Guanyin Fortune Stick 97 (Middle Lot)
"Moonlight in the garden sets the sparse shadows swaying..." So opens lot 97 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
園林月色搖疎影
恍若鋪成滿地瓊
幾度兒童來收拾
豈知收拾總無成
In English (our translation):
Moonlight in the garden sets the sparse shadows swaying,
as if the ground were paved with jade where the light is laying.
How many times the children came to gather it all in:
who knew that all their gathering would never once begin?
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 97 | Middle lot | Hai palace (亥宮) | Six Campaigns from Qishan (六出祁山) |
The story: Zhuge Liang led six northern campaigns out through the Qishan hills against Wei; none achieved its goal, and he died on the last one.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「當風點燭空疏影，恍惚鋪成鏡裡花，累被兒童求收拾，怎知只是幻浮槎」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- 疎 is pronounced like 疏 (shu).
- One reading changes the third line of version two to 累累河山待收拾.
- In version two, 童 originally read 竟.
- In version two, 幻浮槎 originally read 自浮槎; a "floating raft" (浮槎) is a craft that sails to the heavens.
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 | 此卦當風點燭之象。凡事虛名不利也。 | The image of lighting a candle in the wind. Empty fame; unfavorable. |
| Jieyue | 富貴在天。貧窮是命。不用求謀。皆是前定。 | Wealth and rank rest with heaven; poverty is fate. No need to scheme; all is settled beforehand. |
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 | 謹慎 | Be careful |
| Money | 得利 | Profit |
| Deals and trade | 慎重 | Be careful |
| Marriage | 中平 | Middling |
| Pregnancy | 有驚 | A scare |
| Someone away from home | 杳 | No word |
| Crops and silkworms | 損 | Losses |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 無蹤 | No trace |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 改 | Make a change |
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
Moonlit shadows in the garden cover the ground like jade. The children try again and again to gather them up and never manage it.
A tip: Do not chase what is only an illusion. See clearly what is real.
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 96. Next lot: Lot 98.
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 97: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 97 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Hai palace (亥宮), and its story is "Six Campaigns from Qishan."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 97 say?
In Chinese: 「園林月色搖疎影，恍若鋪成滿地瓊，幾度兒童來收拾，豈知收拾總無成」. In our English: Moonlight in the garden sets the sparse shadows swaying, as if the ground were paved with jade where the light is laying. How many times the children came to gather it all in: who knew that all their gathering would never once begin?
What does Guanyin lot 97 mean?
Moonlit shadows in the garden cover the ground like jade. The children try again and again to gather them up and never manage it. A tip: Do not chase what is only an illusion. See clearly what is real.