Mazu Fortune Stick No. 77 · Lü Hexagram
欲知此去真消息，說汝聽時莫膽寒，過得雪山千萬疊，別開生面與君看。 You want the truth about the road ahead; when I tell you, do not lose your nerve. Cross a thousand ranges of snowy peaks, and a whole new view will open before you.
The poem
欲知此去真消息
You want the truth about the road ahead;
說汝聽時莫膽寒
when I tell you, do not lose your nerve.
過得雪山千萬疊
Cross a thousand ranges of snowy peaks,
別開生面與君看
and a whole new view will open before you.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 77 第七十七首 | Lü 履 (Treading) |
Text notes: line 3: the temple website reads 遇得雪山千萬疊.
Readings by topic
| Topic | Reading |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Ten years of study; your hopes fulfilled 十年寒窗 希望得償 |
| Business | Hard to plan, but bitterness turns sweet 謀事多難 苦能成甘 |
| Pregnancy | Mothers-to-be, be patient; no worries later 孕婦忍耐 必無後憂 |
| Marriage | The marriage is unwise; trouble may follow 婚姻莫宜 恐怕禍臨 |
| Travel | Good to go out; home is not far 出外必宜 在家不遠 |
| Household | Understanding each other; plans go as hoped 知事知意 求謀如意 |
| Seeking wealth | Good things come by chance; heaven helps the good 好事隨緣 善人天佑 |
| Luck of the times | Wealth is up to heaven; it cannot be forced 富貴在天 強求不得 |
| Lost items | Right before your eyes, yet hard to find 雖在眼前 卻難尋覓 |
| Farming & livestock | Spring and summer small, autumn and winter better 春夏較小 秋冬可增 |
| Lawsuits | Follow heaven's way; let things take their course 順其天理 聽其自然 |
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
Here is the truth about what lies ahead; do not be alarmed. Once you cross those endless snowy mountains, a new world opens up.
Reminder: Many obstacles ahead; get through them and a new chapter begins.
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. 76; next: No. 78.
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. 77: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 77 say?
「欲知此去真消息，說汝聽時莫膽寒，過得雪山千萬疊，別開生面與君看」 In English: You want the truth about the road ahead; when I tell you, do not lose your nerve. Cross a thousand ranges of snowy peaks, and a whole new view will open before you. It is paired with the Lü hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 77 mean?
Here is the truth about what lies ahead; do not be alarmed. Once you cross those endless snowy mountains, a new world opens up. Reminder: Many obstacles ahead; get through them and a new chapter begins.