Mazu Fortune Stick No. 10 · Xiao Guo Hexagram
泰極否來汝不知，循環往復道無私，回思昔日風光好，却悔今朝禱告遲。 You did not see that peak fortune turns to decline; the wheel turns round, and the Way plays no favorites. Looking back on the glory of other days, you regret you came to pray so late.
The poem
泰極否來汝不知
You did not see that peak fortune turns to decline;
循環往復道無私
the wheel turns round, and the Way plays no favorites.
回思昔日風光好
Looking back on the glory of other days,
却悔今朝禱告遲
you regret you came to pray so late.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 10 第十首 | Xiao Guo 小過 (Small Excess) |
Text notes: line 1: the base text reads 太極否來汝不知.
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | This round is not going well, so build yourself up for the next 這次不順，先充實自己等下一回 |
| Business | Costs can run away, so tighten spending first 開銷容易失控，先收緊支出 |
| Pregnancy | For pregnancy and childbirth, please follow your doctor's advice and prenatal checkups 懷孕生產請遵從醫師與產檢 |
| Marriage | Your paces do not match, so do not force it 雙方步調不合，別勉強湊在一起 |
| Travel | The journey is tiring, so skip long trips unless necessary 路途辛苦，非必要先別遠行 |
| Household | Arguments are frequent at home, so leave room in what you say 家中口角多，說話留點餘地 |
| Seeking wealth | Money luck is weak, so holding steady matters more than pushing 財氣偏弱，守成比進取重要 |
| Luck of the times | After a peak comes a dip, so prepare early 盛極轉衰，提早做好準備 |
| Lost items | If it cannot be recovered, treat it as a lesson 已經找不回的，就當學一課 |
| Farming & livestock | The land needs attention, so strengthen the basics first 田地需要整頓，先補強基礎 |
| Lawsuits | The timing is poor, so aim for talks and seek professional advice 時機不利，盡量和談，並向專業人士請益 |
These short reminders are written by us from the poem and its hexagram; they are not the readings printed on the temple's slip, so for a real reading go by the temple where you drew the lot. The temple's list also has an "illness" topic, which we leave out, and the pregnancy topic is always a reminder to follow your doctor. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.
What it means
At the peak of good times comes the downturn; the cycle spares no one. You remember the glory days and regret not praying sooner.
Background: Tai (peace) and Pi (standstill) are two hexagrams of the Book of Changes; "at the height of Tai comes Pi" means good times carry the seed of their own reversal.
Reminder: Prepare for rain while the sun is out; do not wait for trouble before acting.
This is a plain reading of the words. How it applies to your own question is best settled with the interpreter at the temple where you drew it.
How to draw a lot
- Light incense and tell Mazu your name, birth date and address, then state clearly the one matter you are asking about.
- Cast the moon blocks (jiaobei, two crescent-shaped wooden blocks) to ask whether you may draw. One face up and one face down means yes; then pull one stick from the cylinder.
- Cast the blocks again to confirm that this is your stick. Many temples ask for three yeses in a row; if not, put it back and draw again.
- Collect the poem with the matching number. Read the whole poem, then find the topic below that fits your question. If it is unclear, ask the temple's interpreter.
Ask about one thing at a time; the more specific the question, the easier the poem is to apply.
Common misunderstandings
A gloomy poem means the matter is doomed.
Most poems are reminders and directions. The same poem means different things for different questions, so look at the topic that matches yours.
You can keep drawing on the same question until you get a good poem.
By custom you ask once per matter. If you are still unsure, ask the temple's interpreter, or wait a while and ask again.
Previous: No. 9; next: No. 11.
A straight word: fortune poems are a matter of faith, and the meanings here are ours
The Chinese text and hexagram names follow a widely circulated edition, checked line by line against three other versions; we only corrected obvious copying errors, and every page shows the base text's original wording wherever we changed it. The topic reminders, English translations and plain-English meanings are our own reading of the words and the hexagram, not the temple's readings or official interpretation. For a real reading, ask at 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 poem: your own chart
Enter your birth date to cast a free BaZi Four Pillars chart and see your Five Elements and Ten Gods.
Mazu fortune stick No. 10: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 10 say?
「泰極否來汝不知，循環往復道無私，回思昔日風光好，却悔今朝禱告遲」 In English: You did not see that peak fortune turns to decline; the wheel turns round, and the Way plays no favorites. Looking back on the glory of other days, you regret you came to pray so late. It is paired with the Xiao Guo hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 10 mean?
At the peak of good times comes the downturn; the cycle spares no one. You remember the glory days and regret not praying sooner. Reminder: Prepare for rain while the sun is out; do not wait for trouble before acting.