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) |
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Late success is still success, and steady effort pays off 晚成也是成，持續耕耘終有回報 |
| Business | Do business honestly and build your reputation over time 誠實做生意，慢慢累積口碑 |
| 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 | You get along, so it may be time to think about a family 雙方合得來，可以考慮成家 |
| Travel | Stay true to yourself and you will be welcome anywhere 守住本分，到哪都受歡迎 |
| Household | Devoted elders leave blessings for their grandchildren 長輩用心，福澤延及兒孫 |
| Seeking wealth | Be patient with money and earn it the right way 財路要耐心等，取之有道 |
| Luck of the times | Good luck is on its way, so do not lose heart while waiting 好運正在路上，別因等待而灰心 |
| Lost items | Once found, store it safely so it is not lost again 找到後收好，小心別再掉 |
| Farming & livestock | Patient work yields fine results, and a good harvest is in sight 慢工出細活，收成可期 |
| Lawsuits | It may drag on but will not turn out too badly, so be patient 拖得較久，但不至於太糟，耐住性子 |
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
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 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. 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.