Mazu Fortune Stick No. 53 · Ming Yi Hexagram
急水灘前快着篙，艄公把舵更應牢，須教出得風波險，方見舟師手段高。 At the rapids, quick, drive in the pole; helmsman, grip the rudder tighter still. Only once you are clear of the storm will the boatman's skill be seen.
The poem
急水灘前快着篙
At the rapids, quick, drive in the pole;
艄公把舵更應牢
helmsman, grip the rudder tighter still.
須教出得風波險
Only once you are clear of the storm
方見舟師手段高
will the boatman's skill be seen.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 53 第五十三首 | Ming Yi 明夷 (Darkening of the Light) |
Text notes: line 1: the base text reads 急水灘前快若篙; line 2: the base text reads 艄公把錠更應牢.
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | You are in fast water, hold your ground and do not rush to change course 正處急流，穩住本分，別急著換跑道 |
| Business | When cash is tight, keep things flowing first and grow once steady 資金吃緊時先顧周轉，穩住再求進 |
| 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 timing is not right yet, hold off on talk of marriage 時機未到，先別急著談論終身 |
| Travel | The road is rough, so postpone any trip that is not essential 路途風浪大，非必要先緩一緩 |
| Household | When the family pulls together, hard times are easier to pass 家人同心協力，難關比較好過 |
| Seeking wealth | Money meets resistance for now, so protect what you already have 這陣子求財阻力多，先守住手上的 |
| Luck of the times | Rowing against the current, keeping a steady hand is the real skill 逆水行舟，掌穩方向就是本事 |
| Lost items | If it does not turn up soon, let it go and do not fret 一時找不到就先放下，別為此心煩 |
| Farming & livestock | The weather is unsettled, so tend your fields more diligently 天候不穩，田間照顧要更勤快 |
| Lawsuits | Stay composed when disputes press in, and consult a professional before acting 糾紛纏身時沉住氣，請教專業人士再行動 |
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
Racing through the rapids, the boatman must hold the rudder firmly. Getting through the storm is what proves his skill.
Reminder: A hard stretch is exactly when you get to show what you can do.
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. 52; next: No. 54.
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. 53: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 53 say?
「急水灘前快着篙，艄公把舵更應牢，須教出得風波險，方見舟師手段高」 In English: At the rapids, quick, drive in the pole; helmsman, grip the rudder tighter still. Only once you are clear of the storm will the boatman's skill be seen. It is paired with the Ming Yi hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 53 mean?
Racing through the rapids, the boatman must hold the rudder firmly. Getting through the storm is what proves his skill. Reminder: A hard stretch is exactly when you get to show what you can do.