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) |
Readings by topic
| Topic | Reading |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | You reap what you sow; self-cultivation comes first 種瓜得瓜 修身為要 |
| Business | Put your heart in and the career lasts 盡心振作 生涯利長 |
| Pregnancy | Endure the hardship; joy at a son 辛苦忍耐 喜氣生男 |
| Marriage | The oracle says prosperity; harmony like zither and lute 卜云其昌 琴瑟和鳴 |
| Travel | Better to stay home than go out now 出門一星 不如在家 |
| Household | Doing good prospers; self-cultivation is the root 行善必昌 修身為本 |
| Seeking wealth | Do business everywhere; deal diligently 經營四方 殷勤交接 |
| Luck of the times | Good to cross the great river; very profitable 利涉大川 大吉利路 |
| Lost items | Not far away; search and you will find it 失物不遠 查尋可得 |
| Farming & livestock | Fields and livestock; autumn is better still 田園六畜 秋成更佳 |
| Lawsuits | You have the upper hand; be content 已得上風 知足為上 |
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
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, 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. 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.