Guanyin Fortune Stick 98 (Lower Lot)
"In trade, in going out and coming in, you waver and delay..." So opens lot 98 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
經商出入事遲疑
恐惹閒愁與是非
如鳥飛投羅網陷
相看能有幾人知
In English (our translation):
In trade, in going out and coming in, you waver and delay,
afraid you'll stir up idle grief and quarrels on the way.
You are like a bird that flies into the fowler's net and snare:
looking on, how many people know that you are there?
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 98 | Lower lot | Hai palace (亥宮) | Ji Ping Meets Disaster (吉平遇難) |
The story: Ji Ping, a court physician, joined a plot to poison Cao Cao; the plot was discovered and he died under torture.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「出入求謀事宜遲，急恐憂愁惹是非，如鳥飛入羅網內，脫困能有幾多時」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In version two, "afraid of worry" (急恐憂愁) originally read 辦恐開愁.
- In version two, 脫困 originally read 相逢.
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 | 此卦守舊隨緣之象。凡事不如意主凶也。 | The image of keeping to the old and going along with fate. Things do not go as you wish; unfavorable. |
| Jieyue | 守舊隨時。待貴人至。若問諸般。主事定遲。 | Keep to the old and follow the time; wait for a noble helper to come. Whatever you ask about, matters will surely be slow. |
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 | 憂疑 | Worry and doubt |
| Yourself | 小人 | Petty people |
| Money | 破 | Loss |
| Deals and trade | 損失 | Losses |
| Marriage | 不長 | Will not last |
| Pregnancy | 刑損 | Harm and loss |
| Someone away from home | 困 | Stuck |
| Crops and silkworms | 損 | Losses |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 杳 | No word |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 勿動 | Do not move |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 絕 | Very poor |
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
You hesitate over business and travel, afraid of worry and quarrels. It is like a bird flying into a net, and few people know.
A tip: Move as little as you can for now, and talk things over with people you trust.
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 97. Next lot: Lot 99.
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 98: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 98 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Hai palace (亥宮), and its story is "Ji Ping Meets Disaster."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 98 say?
In Chinese: 「經商出入事遲疑，恐惹閒愁與是非，如鳥飛投羅網陷，相看能有幾人知」. In our English: In trade, in going out and coming in, you waver and delay, afraid you'll stir up idle grief and quarrels on the way. You are like a bird that flies into the fowler's net and snare: looking on, how many people know that you are there?
What does Guanyin lot 98 mean?
You hesitate over business and travel, afraid of worry and quarrels. It is like a bird flying into a net, and few people know. A tip: Move as little as you can for now, and talk things over with people you trust.