Mazu Fortune Stick No. 52 · Sheng Hexagram
寶鏡塵埋久未磨，一朝拂拭起光華，本來神物稱奇秘，魑魅潛形洵足誇。 A precious mirror, long buried in dust, unpolished; wiped clean one morning, it blazes with light. It was a marvel of hidden power all along; ghosts and demons slink away, well worth the praise.
The poem
寶鏡塵埋久未磨
A precious mirror, long buried in dust, unpolished;
一朝拂拭起光華
wiped clean one morning, it blazes with light.
本來神物稱奇秘
It was a marvel of hidden power all along;
魑魅潛形洵足誇
ghosts and demons slink away, well worth the praise.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 52 第五十二首 | Sheng 升 (Pushing Upward) |
Readings by topic
| Topic | Reading |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Polish yourself through hard work and you will shine 勤苦琢磨 自有光輝 |
| Business | Manage carefully and business picks up 謹慎管為 生意振作 |
| Pregnancy | Be patient and cultivate yourself; a fine child comes 忍耐修身 自得嘉種 |
| Marriage | A good match, but not easy to arrange 雖是良緣 未易配合 |
| Travel | Luck has not arrived; honor will come in time 運途未到 榮顯有時 |
| Household | A harmonious home; everyone thriving 家和宜平 人養咸亨 |
| Seeking wealth | A clear conscience; it will come 心地光明 求之必有 |
| Luck of the times | Wealth grows daily; your luck is here 財氣日增 運已到矣 |
| Lost items | Do not search for what is lost; guard what remains 已失莫尋 還須防守 |
| Farming & livestock | Search slowly and you can recover it 慢慢尋之 可以回本 |
| Lawsuits | Heaven sees clearly; you can win 天理昭昭 必可勝之 |
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
A treasured mirror, long covered in dust, shines again once it is wiped. Evil has nowhere to hide.
Reminder: Take stock and tidy yourself up; your natural brightness will show again.
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. 51; next: No. 53.
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. 52: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 52 say?
「寶鏡塵埋久未磨，一朝拂拭起光華，本來神物稱奇秘，魑魅潛形洵足誇」 In English: A precious mirror, long buried in dust, unpolished; wiped clean one morning, it blazes with light. It was a marvel of hidden power all along; ghosts and demons slink away, well worth the praise. It is paired with the Sheng hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 52 mean?
A treasured mirror, long covered in dust, shines again once it is wiped. Evil has nowhere to hide. Reminder: Take stock and tidy yourself up; your natural brightness will show again.