Mazu Fortune Stick No. 15 · Jian Hexagram
種稻高原逢旱歲，插苗低畝遇霖年，欲晴不晴雨不雨，天不絕人人絕天。 Plant rice on the highland, and drought comes; set seedlings in the lowland, and the rains pour. No sun when you want sun, no rain when you want rain: heaven does not abandon people; people abandon heaven.
The poem
種稻高原逢旱歲
Plant rice on the highland, and drought comes;
插苗低畝遇霖年
set seedlings in the lowland, and the rains pour.
欲晴不晴雨不雨
No sun when you want sun, no rain when you want rain:
天不絕人人絕天
heaven does not abandon people; people abandon heaven.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 15 第十五首 | Jian 漸 (Gradual Progress) |
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | The time has not come, so skip daydreams and build your strength 時機未到，別空想，先厚實自己 |
| Business | Hard work is not showing results, so review your methods 費力難見成果，先檢討做法 |
| 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 | The bond is not ripe yet, so there is no rush to settle 緣分還沒成熟，不必急著定下 |
| Travel | The road is long and tiring, so delay if you can 路途遙遠勞累，能不去就緩一緩 |
| Household | Home feels quiet, so reach out to family members more 家裡顯得冷清，多主動關心家人 |
| Seeking wealth | Money luck is poor for now, so keep spending in check 眼下財運不濟，守住開支 |
| Luck of the times | Even when the times are against you, do not give up on yourself 天時不順，也別放棄自己 |
| Lost items | What is already gone is not worth more chasing 已經耗去的東西，就別再費心追了 |
| Farming & livestock | The weather keeps changing, so pick the right season and field before sowing 天候反覆，選對時節與田地再下種 |
| Lawsuits | Trouble arises easily, so mind your words and seek professional advice 容易招惹是非，謹言慎行並尋求專業意見 |
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
Plant on high ground and drought comes; plant low and floods come. Nothing goes your way. But heaven never gives up on people; people give up on heaven.
Reminder: When luck is against you, that is exactly when you must not give up on yourself.
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. 14; next: No. 16.
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. 15: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 15 say?
「種稻高原逢旱歲，插苗低畝遇霖年，欲晴不晴雨不雨，天不絕人人絕天」 In English: Plant rice on the highland, and drought comes; set seedlings in the lowland, and the rains pour. No sun when you want sun, no rain when you want rain: heaven does not abandon people; people abandon heaven. It is paired with the Jian hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 15 mean?
Plant on high ground and drought comes; plant low and floods come. Nothing goes your way. But heaven never gives up on people; people give up on heaven. Reminder: When luck is against you, that is exactly when you must not give up on yourself.