Mazu Fortune Stick No. 20 · Jian Hexagram
制虎降龍靜煉丹，從今縱躍出玄關，前途一片風光好，不到蓬萊只等閒。 You tamed the tiger, subdued the dragon, quietly refined the elixir; now leap free through the mystic pass. The road ahead is bright and fair; you will not stop short of Penglai, the isle of immortals.
The poem
制虎降龍靜煉丹
You tamed the tiger, subdued the dragon, quietly refined the elixir;
從今縱躍出玄關
now leap free through the mystic pass.
前途一片風光好
The road ahead is bright and fair;
不到蓬萊只等閒
you will not stop short of Penglai, the isle of immortals.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 20 第二十首 | 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 | Long training has matured your skill, so it is time to act 長期磨練有了火候，可以出手了 |
| Business | Rally yourself and run it with care, and the outlook is long 振作起來用心經營，前景長遠 |
| 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 live in harmony, so marriage talks can begin 兩人相處和諧，婚事可以談 |
| Travel | Avoid long trips for now, and staying home is steadier 近期不宜遠走，守在家中較安穩 |
| Household | Cultivate yourself and do good, and family fortunes flourish 修身行善，家運興盛 |
| Seeking wealth | Reach out widely and network diligently, and money paths open 多方往來、勤於交際，財路漸開 |
| Luck of the times | You are breaking through, and the road ahead is bright 突破關口，前途光明 |
| Lost items | It was not left far away, so go back and look 沒有遺落太遠，回頭找找 |
| Farming & livestock | Care for fields and livestock, and a rich autumn harvest is likely 照料好田地牲畜，秋季豐收可期 |
| Lawsuits | You already have the upper hand, so quit while ahead 已佔上風，見好就收 |
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
The hard inner work is done, and now you break through. The road ahead is beautiful.
Reminder: You are ready. Take big strides forward.
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. 19; next: No. 21.
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. 20: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 20 say?
「制虎降龍靜煉丹，從今縱躍出玄關，前途一片風光好，不到蓬萊只等閒」 In English: You tamed the tiger, subdued the dragon, quietly refined the elixir; now leap free through the mystic pass. The road ahead is bright and fair; you will not stop short of Penglai, the isle of immortals. It is paired with the Jian hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 20 mean?
The hard inner work is done, and now you break through. The road ahead is beautiful. Reminder: You are ready. Take big strides forward.