Mazu Fortune Stick No. 87 · Jie Hexagram
長舌之言不可聽，世間最毒婦人心，汝今問我凶和吉，同氣三人可斷金。 Do not listen to the wagging tongues; the old saying claims no poison matches a woman's heart. You ask me now about fortune good and ill: three of one mind can cut through metal.
The poem
長舌之言不可聽
Do not listen to the wagging tongues;
世間最毒婦人心
the old saying claims no poison matches a woman's heart.
汝今問我凶和吉
You ask me now about fortune good and ill:
同氣三人可斷金
three of one mind can cut through metal.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 87 第八十七首 | Jie 節 (Limitation) |
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Do not be swayed by gossip; focus on your own preparation 別聽閒話動搖，專心準備自己的事 |
| Business | Find like-minded partners; working together is stronger 找志同道合的夥伴，一起合作較有力 |
| 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 | Idle talk can strain a relationship; think it over carefully 閒言碎語容易影響感情，宜審慎再三 |
| Travel | Travel with companions and come back once the task is done 與人結伴同行，事情辦妥就回 |
| Household | When everyone does their part, the home stays settled 各守本分，家中自然安穩 |
| Seeking wealth | A united team does better than going it alone 同心協力的團隊，比單打獨鬥好 |
| Luck of the times | Keep doing good; a turn for the better will come gradually 多做好事，轉機慢慢會來 |
| Lost items | Things dropped from a height are harder to recover 從高處掉落的東西較難找回 |
| Farming & livestock | This year's harvest is ordinary; try again next year 今年收成普通，明年再努力 |
| Lawsuits | Ignore those stirring things up; sitting down to talk is best 不聽挑撥，坐下來談最好 |
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
Ignore gossip and slander; people's hearts are hard to read. As for fortune: three people of one mind can cut through metal.
Background: The second line repeats an old misogynistic proverb. We translate it as written; we read it as a warning against malice and slander from anyone.
Reminder: Tune out gossip and work with people you can trust.
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. 86; next: No. 88.
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. 87: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 87 say?
「長舌之言不可聽，世間最毒婦人心，汝今問我凶和吉，同氣三人可斷金」 In English: Do not listen to the wagging tongues; the old saying claims no poison matches a woman's heart. You ask me now about fortune good and ill: three of one mind can cut through metal. It is paired with the Jie hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 87 mean?
Ignore gossip and slander; people's hearts are hard to read. As for fortune: three people of one mind can cut through metal. Reminder: Tune out gossip and work with people you can trust.