Mazu Fortune Stick No. 22 · Ding Hexagram
福祿從來未易求，枉勞心力費鑽謀，到頭無益徒貽笑，疾病相侵萬事休。 Fortune and rank were never easily won; you wear out mind and body scheming in vain. In the end it gains nothing but ridicule, and when illness strikes, all plans stop.
The poem
福祿從來未易求
Fortune and rank were never easily won;
枉勞心力費鑽謀
you wear out mind and body scheming in vain.
到頭無益徒貽笑
In the end it gains nothing but ridicule,
疾病相侵萬事休
and when illness strikes, all plans stop.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 22 第二十二首 | Ding 鼎 (The Cauldron) |
Text notes: line 4: the base text reads 痴病相侵萬事休.
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | No need to scheme, just do your own job well 不必鑽營，把份內工作做好 |
| Business | Use fewer tricks and return to your product and service 少用心機，把東西和服務做扎實 |
| 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 | If you do not get along, do not force it 雙方不合就別硬湊 |
| Travel | Rushing around may not pay off, so skip what is unnecessary 奔波未必有收穫，非必要可省 |
| Household | Household burdens are heavy, so look after yourself first 家務繁重，先照顧好自己 |
| Seeking wealth | Money is hard to come by, so avoid rash moves 求財艱難，避免冒進 |
| Luck of the times | Luck is dim, so stay steady and wait 時運偏暗，安分等待 |
| Lost items | It may be hard to recover, and letting go will lighten your mind 恐怕難以找回，放下心比較輕鬆 |
| Farming & livestock | Yields are poor, so protect your capital first 收成不佳，先保住本錢 |
| Lawsuits | Luck is not on your side, so seek harmony and consult a lawyer if needed 運勢不利，以和為上，必要時找律師諮詢 |
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
Fortune is never easy to come by. Scheming and maneuvering only get you laughed at and add worries.
Reminder: Stop maneuvering; returning to your own work is the safest course.
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. 21; next: No. 23.
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. 22: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 22 say?
「福祿從來未易求，枉勞心力費鑽謀，到頭無益徒貽笑，疾病相侵萬事休」 In English: Fortune and rank were never easily won; you wear out mind and body scheming in vain. In the end it gains nothing but ridicule, and when illness strikes, all plans stop. It is paired with the Ding hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 22 mean?
Fortune is never easy to come by. Scheming and maneuvering only get you laughed at and add worries. Reminder: Stop maneuvering; returning to your own work is the safest course.