Mazu Fortune Stick No. 80 · Dun Hexagram
前生逋欠我深知，此日相償數適宜，莫便生嗔兼悔恨，塞翁失馬未為奇。 I know well the debts you left from a past life; to repay them now is only right. Do not turn angry or bitter with regret: when the old man lost his horse, who knew it was not luck?
The poem
前生逋欠我深知
I know well the debts you left from a past life;
此日相償數適宜
to repay them now is only right.
莫便生嗔兼悔恨
Do not turn angry or bitter with regret:
塞翁失馬未為奇
when the old man lost his horse, who knew it was not luck?
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 80 第八十首 | Dun 遯 (Retreat) |
Readings by topic
| Topic | Reading |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | A busy life that comes to nothing 碌碌一生 都成畫餅 |
| Business | Business will not work; small gains, big losses 經營不就 得小失多 |
| Pregnancy | Old grievances return; repent quickly 冤仇相報 切速悔過 |
| Marriage | A lone bird; a broken mirror is hard to mend 孤鸞寡過 破鏡難圓 |
| Travel | The road runs out at sunset; anxious 窮途日西 皇皇如也 |
| Household | A cold, declining house; a bleak scene 門衰戶冷 風景淒涼 |
| Seeking wealth | Much scheming, nothing gained 費盡心機 求而不得 |
| Luck of the times | Effort without result; your time has not come 徒勞無功 時運未到 |
| Lost items | Search everywhere and still cannot find it 萬處尋覓 亦無法找 |
| Farming & livestock | Fields gone to waste; nothing left 田畝荒蕪 皆成烏有 |
| Lawsuits | Stop when you should; watch out for small temptations 可止不止 須防小利 |
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
Debts from a past life are being repaid now, and it is right that they are. Do not be angry or regretful; like the old man who lost his horse, a loss may turn out well.
Background: The old man at the frontier lost his horse, and it came back leading a fine stallion. The story teaches that a loss may turn out to be a blessing.
Reminder: A loss is not always bad. Take the long view.
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. 79; next: No. 81.
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. 80: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 80 say?
「前生逋欠我深知，此日相償數適宜，莫便生嗔兼悔恨，塞翁失馬未為奇」 In English: I know well the debts you left from a past life; to repay them now is only right. Do not turn angry or bitter with regret: when the old man lost his horse, who knew it was not luck? It is paired with the Dun hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 80 mean?
Debts from a past life are being repaid now, and it is right that they are. Do not be angry or regretful; like the old man who lost his horse, a loss may turn out well. Reminder: A loss is not always bad. Take the long view.