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) |
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Polish up the skills you set aside, the chance is right in front of you 把擱下的本事重新磨亮，機會就在眼前 |
| Business | Refresh your old ways of working and the business will look new again 整頓舊有做法，生意會有新氣象 |
| 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 | The match is good, but you both need more time to settle in 緣分不錯，但雙方還要多些時間磨合 |
| Travel | You can go, just put your plans and documents in order first 可以出發，先把行程與證件整理妥當 |
| Household | Give the house a good clean and the mood will brighten too 家裡打掃整理一番，氣氛也會跟著明亮 |
| Seeking wealth | An honest heart and busy hands will slowly open the way to income 心正手勤，財路會慢慢打開 |
| Luck of the times | Luck that has long been dormant is starting to shine 沉寂已久的運勢正在轉亮 |
| Lost items | Use this as a chance to tidy up, it may be gathering dust in a corner 趁機整理收納，東西可能在角落蒙塵 |
| Farming & livestock | Clear the weeds and your crops will grow with more vigor 清理田間雜草，作物自然長得有精神 |
| Lawsuits | Lay out the facts and evidence clearly and the truth will show itself 把事實與證據整理清楚，道理自會明白 |
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
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 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. 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.