Mazu Fortune Stick No. 44 · Bo Hexagram
看來黑白要分明，棋子縱橫布滿枰，汝却不知先一著，枉勞心力總難贏。 Black and white must be clearly told apart; the stones lie scattered across the board. But you do not see the move ahead, so all your effort still cannot win.
The poem
看來黑白要分明
Black and white must be clearly told apart;
棋子縱橫布滿枰
the stones lie scattered across the board.
汝却不知先一著
But you do not see the move ahead,
枉勞心力總難贏
so all your effort still cannot win.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 44 第四十四首 | Bo 剝 (Splitting Apart) |
Text notes: line 4: the base text reads 枉勞心力總難嬴.
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Rather than playing before you know the rules, watch and learn first 還沒看清規則就上場，不如先觀察學習 |
| Business | However detailed the plan, work out the first move before anything else 計畫再精細，也要先想好第一步 |
| 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 two are out of step; do not rush to settle things 兩人步調不合，先別急著定案 |
| Travel | Road conditions are unclear; find out before setting off 路況不明，先查清楚再出發 |
| Household | When home feels distant, make the call and check in 家裡冷清時，主動打通電話問候 |
| Seeking wealth | If you cannot read the situation, do not place bets; observe from the side 看不清局勢就別下注，先在旁觀察 |
| Luck of the times | More action means more mistakes now; think through the key move first 此時多做多錯，先想清楚關鍵一步 |
| Lost items | Do not panic; retrace every step from the beginning 先別慌，從頭回想每一個步驟 |
| Farming & livestock | Play it safe this year and cut back on inputs 今年先保守經營，減少投入 |
| Lawsuits | Pin down the key evidence first and bring in a lawyer if needed 先釐清關鍵證據，必要時請律師協助 |
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
Like a game of Go, you have to know black from white. If you do not see the key move ahead, no amount of effort will win.
Background: The image is from weiqi (Go), played with black and white stones.
Reminder: Think through the key move before you act.
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. 43; next: No. 45.
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. 44: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 44 say?
「看來黑白要分明，棋子縱橫布滿枰，汝却不知先一著，枉勞心力總難贏」 In English: Black and white must be clearly told apart; the stones lie scattered across the board. But you do not see the move ahead, so all your effort still cannot win. It is paired with the Bo hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 44 mean?
Like a game of Go, you have to know black from white. If you do not see the key move ahead, no amount of effort will win. Reminder: Think through the key move before you act.