Guanyin Fortune Stick 99 (Lower Lot)
"At ease you mount your horse and ride, and crack the whip along..." So opens lot 99 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
等閑騎馬着鞭來
半有憂危半有財
似火方燒頭上屋
天教一雨蕩殃災
In English (our translation):
At ease you mount your horse and ride, and crack the whip along:
half of it is worry and danger, half of it is wealth and song.
It's like a fire that's burning now upon the roof above your head,
and heaven sends a rain to wash the ruin away instead.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 99 | Lower lot | Hai palace (亥宮) | Tao Sanchun Takes Command (陶三春掛帥) |
The story: In Song-dynasty folk tales, the fierce heroine Tao Sanchun, wife of the general Zheng En, took command of the army herself.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「勒馬持鞭直過來，半有憂危半有災，恰似遭火焚燒屋，天降時雨蕩成灰」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- 勒 is also written 策.
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 | 此卦半憂半喜之象。凡事只宜行善也。 | The image of half worry and half joy. Only doing good is fitting. |
| Jieyue | 終身勞力。莫管是非。枷鎖臨時。怨尤自至。 | A life of toil; do not meddle in right and wrong. Shackles may come, and blame will follow of itself. |
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 | 祈保 | Pray for protection |
| Yourself | 守慎 | Stay careful |
| Money | 破 | Loss |
| Deals and trade | 阻 | Blocked |
| Marriage | 刑剋 | Clashing |
| Pregnancy | 險 | Risky |
| Someone away from home | 困 | Stuck |
| Crops and silkworms | 損 | Losses |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 招非 | Invites trouble |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 敗 | Failing |
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 ride up at an easy pace, half danger and half gain. Just as fire reaches the roof, heaven sends rain to put out the disaster.
A tip: Keep doing good; there is a way out even in danger.
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 98. Next lot: Lot 100.
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 99: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 99 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Hai palace (亥宮), and its story is "Tao Sanchun Takes Command."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 99 say?
In Chinese: 「等閑騎馬着鞭來，半有憂危半有財，似火方燒頭上屋，天教一雨蕩殃災」. In our English: At ease you mount your horse and ride, and crack the whip along: half of it is worry and danger, half of it is wealth and song. It's like a fire that's burning now upon the roof above your head, and heaven sends a rain to wash the ruin away instead.
What does Guanyin lot 99 mean?
You ride up at an easy pace, half danger and half gain. Just as fire reaches the roof, heaven sends rain to put out the disaster. A tip: Keep doing good; there is a way out even in danger.