Mazu Fortune Stick No. 96 · Bo Hexagram
到處生財人莫知，何須奢望遠求之，一兩黃金四兩福，無如命運本參差。 Everywhere there is money to be made, though no one sees it; why dream of chasing it far away? An ounce of gold takes four ounces of luck: fortunes simply are not equal.
The poem
到處生財人莫知
Everywhere there is money to be made, though no one sees it;
何須奢望遠求之
why dream of chasing it far away?
一兩黃金四兩福
An ounce of gold takes four ounces of luck:
無如命運本參差
fortunes simply are not equal.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 96 第九十六首 | Bo 剝 (Splitting Apart) |
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Do not aim too high too fast; do what is in front of you first 別好高騖遠，先做好眼前的事 |
| Business | There are gains and losses; take them in stride 賺賠互見，用平常心看待 |
| 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 | The bond is not strong enough; do not force it 緣分不足，不要勉強在一起 |
| Travel | Staying close to home is better; put off long trips 待在家附近較好，遠行可暫緩 |
| Household | Act as the situation calls for and the home can stay happy 見機行事，家中可保和樂 |
| Seeking wealth | Money comes and goes; hold on to what is in hand 錢來錢去，記得守住手邊的 |
| Luck of the times | The time has not come; build up your strength first 時機未到，先蓄積實力 |
| Lost items | Let it go when it is time; do not wear yourself out 該放下就放下，別再耗神 |
| Farming & livestock | The harvest is disappointing; cover household needs first 收成不理想，先顧好家用 |
| Lawsuits | Arguments flare easily; choose your words with care 容易有口角是非，說話要謹慎 |
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
There is money to be made everywhere if you look; why chase it far away? It takes luck to hold on to gold, and people's luck differs.
Reminder: Guard what you have and do not chase grand schemes.
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. 95; next: No. 97.
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. 96: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 96 say?
「到處生財人莫知，何須奢望遠求之，一兩黃金四兩福，無如命運本參差」 In English: Everywhere there is money to be made, though no one sees it; why dream of chasing it far away? An ounce of gold takes four ounces of luck: fortunes simply are not equal. It is paired with the Bo hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 96 mean?
There is money to be made everywhere if you look; why chase it far away? It takes luck to hold on to gold, and people's luck differs. Reminder: Guard what you have and do not chase grand schemes.