Mazu Fortune Stick No. 8 · Da Zhuang Hexagram
積德如君幾十年，何須禮拜問神仙，一帆順境誰能及，利有攸往涉大川。 You have stored up virtue for decades; why bow and ask the gods at all? Who can match you, sailing with the wind: it is good to go on, good to cross the great river.
The poem
積德如君幾十年
You have stored up virtue for decades;
何須禮拜問神仙
why bow and ask the gods at all?
一帆順境誰能及
Who can match you, sailing with the wind:
利有攸往涉大川
it is good to go on, good to cross the great river.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 8 第八首 | Da Zhuang 大壯 (Great Power) |
Readings by topic
| Topic | Reading |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Known for your humility; success and a good name 謙德之稱 名顯成功 |
| Business | Sails full, you come home fully laden 錦帆捷至 滿載而歸 |
| Pregnancy | A fine son is sure; every joy at once 定產麟兒 三多俱慶 |
| Marriage | Two fine people meet; a lucky match 兩美相逢 幸遇良緣 |
| Travel | Be gracious everywhere; spring breezes all the way 四處謙和 滿路春風 |
| Household | Blessings and good fortune for the household 福祿善慶 家庭禎祥 |
| Seeking wealth | An even mind brings many blessings; you do well 平心多福 揚揚得意 |
| Luck of the times | Wealth flows freely; you will meet a patron 財利通達 定逢貴人 |
| Lost items | No need to worry; you will find it 勿必煩惱 定可尋獲 |
| Farming & livestock | Plenty to eat and wear; a full harvest 衣食充足 收成十足 |
| Lawsuits | You may have the upper hand, but settling is better 勢雖勝人 和局為貴 |
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
Someone who has done good for many years hardly needs to ask the gods. The wind is behind you; any undertaking goes well.
Background: "Good to go somewhere, good to cross the great river" are stock phrases from the Book of Changes meaning that a venture will go well.
Reminder: Everyday kindness is the best insurance you have.
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.
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. 8: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 8 say?
「積德如君幾十年，何須禮拜問神仙，一帆順境誰能及，利有攸往涉大川」 In English: You have stored up virtue for decades; why bow and ask the gods at all? Who can match you, sailing with the wind: it is good to go on, good to cross the great river. It is paired with the Da Zhuang hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 8 mean?
Someone who has done good for many years hardly needs to ask the gods. The wind is behind you; any undertaking goes well. Reminder: Everyday kindness is the best insurance you have.