Mazu Fortune Stick No. 88 · Xu Hexagram
有人販得洞庭紅，鉅萬財源頃刻通，男子運來難預料，今朝送汝一帆風。 Someone traded in Dongting red oranges, and a fortune opened up in a moment. When a man's luck turns, no one can foresee it; today I send you a fair wind in your sail.
The poem
有人販得洞庭紅
Someone traded in Dongting red oranges,
鉅萬財源頃刻通
and a fortune opened up in a moment.
男子運來難預料
When a man's luck turns, no one can foresee it;
今朝送汝一帆風
today I send you a fair wind in your sail.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 88 第八十八首 | Xu 需 (Waiting) |
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Opportunity is at the door; step forward and you can shine 機會臨門，主動爭取就有表現 |
| Business | Seize the moment and keep goods moving quickly 掌握時機，貨物周轉要快 |
| 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 | A happy event is near; prepare for it well 喜事近了，可以好好籌備 |
| Travel | A fair wind for travel, often with unexpected gains 出門順風，常有意外收穫 |
| Household | A lively household with blessings gradually growing 家中熱鬧，福氣漸漸增多 |
| Seeking wealth | Money comes quickly; know when to stop while ahead 財運來得快，見好就收 |
| Luck of the times | When luck arrives, respond quickly and do not hesitate too long 運氣來時要反應快，別猶豫太久 |
| Lost items | Clues are getting clearer and it should come back to you 線索漸漸明朗，東西將回到手上 |
| Farming & livestock | Yields double and the livestock thrive 田裡收成加倍，牲畜興旺 |
| Lawsuits | Goodwill brings help, but still have your evidence ready 有人緣相助，仍要備妥證據 |
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
Someone sold a boatload of oranges and made a fortune overnight. When luck turns, it is impossible to predict; today the wind is behind you.
Background: The line recalls a Ming-dynasty story in which a down-on-his-luck man carries Dongting oranges overseas and sells them for a fortune.
Reminder: Opportunities arrive suddenly; be ready to move fast.
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. 87; next: No. 89.
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. 88: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 88 say?
「有人販得洞庭紅，鉅萬財源頃刻通，男子運來難預料，今朝送汝一帆風」 In English: Someone traded in Dongting red oranges, and a fortune opened up in a moment. When a man's luck turns, no one can foresee it; today I send you a fair wind in your sail. It is paired with the Xu hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 88 mean?
Someone sold a boatload of oranges and made a fortune overnight. When luck turns, it is impossible to predict; today the wind is behind you. Reminder: Opportunities arrive suddenly; be ready to move fast.