Mazu Fortune Stick No. 19 · Huan Hexagram
渭川頭白一漁翁，遇合時來便不同，莫道蹉跎心便冷，須從忍耐付窮通。 By the Wei River, a white-haired old fisherman: when his hour came, one meeting changed everything. Do not say wasted years must chill the heart; be patient, and leave hard times and good to fate.
The poem
渭川頭白一漁翁
By the Wei River, a white-haired old fisherman:
遇合時來便不同
when his hour came, one meeting changed everything.
莫道蹉跎心便冷
Do not say wasted years must chill the heart;
須從忍耐付窮通
be patient, and leave hard times and good to fate.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 19 第十九首 | Huan 渙 (Dispersion) |
Readings by topic
| Topic | Reading |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Plant melons, get melons; plant beans, get beans 種瓜得瓜 得豆得豆 |
| Business | Trade honestly; an even mind brings blessings 貿易不欺 平心福多 |
| Pregnancy | Planting jade in Lantian: a fine son is sure 藍田種玉 必得佳兒 |
| Marriage | Harmonious and peaceful; a good match 和合清吉 可以匹配 |
| Travel | Upright and loyal, you do well on every side 忠直自持 左宜右有 |
| Household | A good heart; blessings for children and grandchildren 一點心田 子種孫耕 |
| Seeking wealth | Take nothing unjust and you will have it 非義勿取 求之必有 |
| Luck of the times | Wealth flows; good luck is here 大適生財 佳運現到 |
| Lost items | Be careful; guard against losing it again 謹慎小心 宜防再失 |
| Farming & livestock | Fields and livestock; a harvest to count on 田園牧產 收穫可圖 |
| Lawsuits | The trouble may drag on, but no great harm 風波可長 幸無大礙 |
Readings follow the Grand Matsu Temple website; the English is our translation. The temple's list also has an "illness" reading; we leave it out. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.
What it means
Jiang Ziya was an old man fishing on the Wei River until the right ruler found him. Do not lose heart over lost years; be patient and wait for your moment.
Background: Jiang Ziya was said to be fishing on the Wei River in old age when King Wen of Zhou found him and made him his chief adviser.
Reminder: Before your time comes, simply holding on is a skill.
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. 18; next: No. 20.
A straight word: fortune poems are a matter of faith, and the meanings here are ours
The Chinese text, hexagram names and topic readings follow the Grand Matsu Temple of Tainan, checked line by line against three other sources; we only corrected obvious copying errors, and every page shows the temple's original wording wherever we changed it. The English translations and the plain-English meanings are our own reading of the words, not the temple's 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. 19: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 19 say?
「渭川頭白一漁翁，遇合時來便不同，莫道蹉跎心便冷，須從忍耐付窮通」 In English: By the Wei River, a white-haired old fisherman: when his hour came, one meeting changed everything. Do not say wasted years must chill the heart; be patient, and leave hard times and good to fate. It is paired with the Huan hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 19 mean?
Jiang Ziya was an old man fishing on the Wei River until the right ruler found him. Do not lose heart over lost years; be patient and wait for your moment. Reminder: Before your time comes, simply holding on is a skill.