Mazu Fortune Stick No. 59 · Shi Hexagram
不為工商不為農，黃卷青燈自苦攻，若問終身休咎事，試看龍虎起風雲。 Neither craftsman, merchant, nor farmer, you toil over yellowed books by a dim blue lamp. If you ask of fortune for the rest of your life, watch the dragon and tiger raise the wind and clouds.
The poem
不為工商不為農
Neither craftsman, merchant, nor farmer,
黃卷青燈自苦攻
you toil over yellowed books by a dim blue lamp.
若問終身休咎事
If you ask of fortune for the rest of your life,
試看龍虎起風雲
watch the dragon and tiger raise the wind and clouds.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 59 第五十九首 | Shi 師 (The Army) |
Text notes: line 3: the base text reads 若問修身休咎事.
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | All those hours of study will one day bring you to the fore 埋頭苦讀的努力，終有出頭的一天 |
| Business | Run things diligently and frugally, building the household step by step 勤儉經營，一步步把家業撐起來 |
| 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 are well matched, so sit down and plan a date together 雙方條件相當，可以好好商量日子 |
| Travel | Going out is fine, you may even run into a good opening 出門無妨，說不定會遇上好機會 |
| Household | Family fortunes rise, and relatives long apart may reunite 家運向上，久別的家人可望相聚 |
| Seeking wealth | Focus on your main work and money will follow 專心本業，錢財隨後就來 |
| Luck of the times | The moment is near, and those who are ready will be noticed 時機已近，準備好的人會被看見 |
| Lost items | Search carefully and you will soon have a lead 仔細查找，很快會有下落 |
| Farming & livestock | The harvest is ample with some left over to store 田裡收成豐足，還有剩餘可存 |
| Lawsuits | Reason is on your side, but still handle it calmly 情理站在你這邊，仍要冷靜處理 |
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
Not a merchant or a farmer, you study hard by lamplight. As for your whole life's fortune, watch for the moment when dragon and tiger stir the wind and clouds.
Reminder: Concentrate on your studies or craft and wait for your chance to shine.
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. 58; next: No. 60.
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. 59: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 59 say?
「不為工商不為農，黃卷青燈自苦攻，若問終身休咎事，試看龍虎起風雲」 In English: Neither craftsman, merchant, nor farmer, you toil over yellowed books by a dim blue lamp. If you ask of fortune for the rest of your life, watch the dragon and tiger raise the wind and clouds. It is paired with the Shi hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 59 mean?
Not a merchant or a farmer, you study hard by lamplight. As for your whole life's fortune, watch for the moment when dragon and tiger stir the wind and clouds. Reminder: Concentrate on your studies or craft and wait for your chance to shine.