Mazu Fortune Stick No. 76 · Pi Hexagram
萬頃波濤一葉舟，安如磐石自夷猶，吉人原有神明佑，何必臨危事禱求。 On a sea of endless waves, a single leaf of a boat rides steady as a rock, at ease. Good people have the gods' protection anyway; why wait for danger to pray?
The poem
萬頃波濤一葉舟
On a sea of endless waves, a single leaf of a boat
安如磐石自夷猶
rides steady as a rock, at ease.
吉人原有神明佑
Good people have the gods' protection anyway;
何必臨危事禱求
why wait for danger to pray?
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 76 第七十六首 | Pi 否 (Standstill) |
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Steady daily effort keeps you calm when it counts 平日功夫做足，臨場自然沉得住氣 |
| Business | Stick to honest methods and you stay steady in rough waters 守著正派做法，風浪來時也穩當 |
| 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 | Be sincere; families on similar footing find it easier to talk 真心相待，兩家條件相近更好談 |
| Travel | No need to rush off; take care of what is in front of you first 不必急著遠行，眼前的事先顧好 |
| Household | Look after one another; everyone being safe is the best news 家人彼此照應，平安就是最好的消息 |
| Seeking wealth | Work at it with care and gains will build up over time 用心經營，收穫會慢慢累積 |
| Luck of the times | The waves are high, but a settled mind carries you through 風浪雖大，心定就能安穩過去 |
| Lost items | Calmly retrace your steps; the item can likely be found 先冷靜回想走過的路，東西多半找得回來 |
| Farming & livestock | Tend the fields and livestock well and a harvest can be expected 照顧好田地與牲畜，收成可期 |
| Lawsuits | With a clear conscience there is no need to panic; handle it step by step 心安理得就不必慌，按部就班處理 |
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
A tiny boat on a vast sea sits as steady as a rock. Good people are protected by the gods; there is no need to wait for a crisis to pray.
Reminder: Keep a good heart day to day, and you will stay calm when things happen.
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. 75; next: No. 77.
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. 76: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 76 say?
「萬頃波濤一葉舟，安如磐石自夷猶，吉人原有神明佑，何必臨危事禱求」 In English: On a sea of endless waves, a single leaf of a boat rides steady as a rock, at ease. Good people have the gods' protection anyway; why wait for danger to pray? It is paired with the Pi hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 76 mean?
A tiny boat on a vast sea sits as steady as a rock. Good people are protected by the gods; there is no need to wait for a crisis to pray. Reminder: Keep a good heart day to day, and you will stay calm when things happen.