Mazu Fortune Stick No. 48 · Da Chu Hexagram
千方百計總皆空，枉費心機不見功，直待雪消紅日上，別開局面漸亨通。 A thousand schemes, and all come to nothing; your cleverness wasted, nothing to show. Wait until the snow melts and the red sun rises, then open a new game, and things will go well.
The poem
千方百計總皆空
A thousand schemes, and all come to nothing;
枉費心機不見功
your cleverness wasted, nothing to show.
直待雪消紅日上
Wait until the snow melts and the red sun rises,
別開局面漸亨通
then open a new game, and things will go well.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 48 第四十八首 | Da Chu 大畜 (Great Taming) |
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | It cannot be rushed; settle down and wait for good news 急不得，先靜下心等好消息 |
| Business | There are many variables; do not overreach, and take profits when things go well 變數多，別貪大，見好就收 |
| 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 | No need to hurry; get to know each other before deciding 不用心急，慢慢了解再決定 |
| Travel | Do not be restless; the right moment comes later 先別焦躁，合適的時機在後頭 |
| Household | Hard first, easier later; things at home gradually improve 起頭難一些，之後家中漸有好轉 |
| Seeking wealth | Keep to your proper role and what is yours will come 守好本分，該你的會來 |
| Luck of the times | If the old road is blocked, take another; things will gradually open up 舊路不通就換條路，局面會漸漸打開 |
| Lost items | Search again in a couple of days; it may turn up on its own 過兩天再找，可能就自己出現了 |
| Farming & livestock | The first half of the year is steady; after autumn the harvest is better 上半年持平，入秋以後收成更好 |
| Lawsuits | Do not be overly suspicious; the matter will end peacefully 別自己嚇自己，事情會平安落幕 |
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
All your schemes have failed and your effort has been wasted. Wait for the snow to melt and the sun to rise, then start fresh; things will gradually go well.
Reminder: If the old road is blocked, take another.
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. 47; next: No. 49.
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. 48: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 48 say?
「千方百計總皆空，枉費心機不見功，直待雪消紅日上，別開局面漸亨通」 In English: A thousand schemes, and all come to nothing; your cleverness wasted, nothing to show. Wait until the snow melts and the red sun rises, then open a new game, and things will go well. It is paired with the Da Chu hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 48 mean?
All your schemes have failed and your effort has been wasted. Wait for the snow to melt and the sun to rise, then start fresh; things will gradually go well. Reminder: If the old road is blocked, take another.