The Sixty Jiazi Oracle: All 60 Fortune Stick Poems in Chinese and English
Draw a fortune stick at a Mazu or Earth God temple in Taiwan and you will most likely get a Sixty Jiazi poem. The cylinder holds 60 sticks, each numbered by a stem-branch pair, and each points to a four-line poem. All 60 are here, in the original Chinese with our English translation and a plain-English meaning.
How to draw a lot and read it
- Light incense and tell the deity your name, date of birth and address, then state clearly the one question you want to ask.
- Ask permission by casting the moon blocks (筊, jiaobei), two crescent-shaped wooden pieces. One flat side up and one round side up is a "holy answer" (聖筊): yes, go ahead. Then shake the bamboo cylinder until one stick falls out.
- Cast the blocks again to confirm this is your stick. Many temples ask for three holy answers in a row; if you do not get them, draw again.
- Take the poem with the same number, read it as a whole, and hold it up against your question. If it is unclear, the temple’s volunteers can explain it.
Ask about one thing at a time. The more specific the question, the easier the poem is to apply.
All 60 poems at a glance
| Lot | Stem-branch | Poem | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Jia-Zi | 日出便見風雲散，光明清淨照世間，一向前途通大道，萬事清吉保平安 The sun comes up; the wind and clouds disperse … | The clouds clear and the sun rises. The road ahead is bright, and the whole way is safe and smooth. |
| No. 2 | Jia-Yin | 於今此景正當時，看看欲吐百花魁，若能遇得春色到，一洒清吉脫塵埃 This scene has come right at its proper hour … | The moment is close, like a bud about to open. Once spring arrives, the worries are swept away. |
| No. 3 | Jia-Chen | 勸君把定心莫虛，天註衣祿自有餘，和合重重常吉慶，時來終遇得明珠 Hold your heart steady; do not let it waver … | Settle your mind. What you need to live on is already provided for. Things come together, and in time you will find your pearl. |
| No. 4 | Jia-Wu | 風恬浪靜可行舟，恰是中秋月一輪，凡事不須多憂慮，福祿自有慶家門 The wind is soft, the waves are still: set sail … | Calm water, a good time to set out. Things are as round and complete as the Mid-Autumn moon; there is no need to worry, and your family is blessed. |
| No. 5 | Jia-Shen | 只恐前途命有變，勸君作急可宜先，且守長江無大事，命逢太白守身邊 I fear a change awaits you on the road … | Things ahead may shift, so prepare early. If you hold your ground, nothing serious happens, and a lucky star protects you. |
| No. 6 | Jia-Xu | 風雲致雨落洋洋，天災時氣必有傷，命內此事難和合，更逢一足出外鄉 Wind and cloud bring rain that falls in sheets … | Storms and bad timing. This matter is hard to bring together, and it may involve someone having to travel or live away from home. |
| No. 7 | Yi-Chou | 雲開月出正分明，不須進退問前程，婚姻皆由天註定，和合清吉萬事成 The clouds part, the moon comes out, all is clear … | The clouds part and the moon is bright, so there is no need to agonize over the road ahead. A marriage is a bond set by Heaven, and it goes smoothly. |
| No. 8 | Yi-Mao | 禾稻看看結成完，此事必定兩相全，回到家中寬心坐，妻兒鼓腹樂團圓 The rice in the field is ripening to the full … | The harvest is nearly in, and both sides come out well. Go home and wait with an easy mind; the whole family is together and happy. |
| No. 9 | Yi-Si | 龍虎相隨在深山，君爾何須背後看，不知此去相愛愉，他日與我卻無干 Dragon and tiger roam together deep in the hills … | The dragon and the tiger share the mountain, but each wants something different. It looks warm for now, but later it may have nothing to do with you. |
| No. 10 | Yi-Wei | 花開結子一半枯，可惜今年汝虛度，漸漸日落西山去，勸君不用向前途 The flower bloomed and set its seed, but half has withered … | It flowered and fruited, but half of it withered, and this year feels wasted. Like the sun going down in the west, this is not the time to push forward. |
| No. 11 | Yi-You | 靈雞漸漸見分明，凡事且看子丑寅，雲開月出照天下，郎君即便見太平 The sacred rooster crows, and slowly all grows clear … | Things are slowly becoming clear. Watch the timing of Zi, Chou and Yin. The clouds part and the moon comes out; calm returns in the end. |
| No. 12 | Yi-Hai | 長江風浪漸漸靜，于今得進可安寧，必有貴人相扶助，凶事脫出見太平 The wind and waves on the Long River slowly calm … | The waves are settling, so you can move ahead and find stability. Someone will help you, and the trouble resolves. |
| No. 13 | Bing-Zi | 命中正逢羅孛關，用盡心機總未休，作福問神難得過，恰是行舟上高灘 Your fate has run into the pass of Luo and Bo … | You have hit a hard pass. However hard you scheme, it does not let up, and even prayer may not get you through. It is like forcing a boat upstream onto a sandbank. |
| No. 14 | Bing-Yin | 財中漸漸見分明，花開花謝結子成，寬心且看月中桂，郎君即便見太平 Your money matters are slowly coming clear … | Your finances are gradually becoming clear. Flowers bloom and fade, and in the end the fruit sets. Wait with an easy mind and calm will come. |
| No. 15 | Bing-Chen | 八十原來是太公，看看晚景遇文王，目下緊事休相問，勸君且守待運通 Jiang Taigong was already eighty … | Jiang Taigong met King Wen at eighty; the good fortune here comes late. Do not chase the urgent matter right now. Hold on until your luck opens. |
| No. 16 | Bing-Wu | 不須作福不須求，用盡心機總未休，陽世不知陰世事，官法如爐不自由 No need for offerings, no need to pray … | Asking is no use, and scheming gets you nowhere. The seen and unseen worlds each have their own business. If a legal dispute is involved, things are out of your hands. |
| No. 17 | Bing-Shen | 舊恨重重未改為，家中禍患不臨身，須當謹防宜作福，龍蛇交會得和合 Old grudges pile up, still not set right … | Old resentments are not settled yet, but no disaster reaches your home. Be careful and do good, and in the end things come together. |
| No. 18 | Bing-Xu | 君問中間此言因，看看祿馬拱前程，若得貴人多得利，和合自有兩分明 You ask what lies behind this matter … | You ask what is behind this. Chances for advancement and for travel both lie ahead, and with someone’s help the gains are greater. |
| No. 19 | Ding-Chou | 富貴由命天註定，心高必然誤君期，不然且回依舊路，雲開月出自分明 Wealth and rank are set by fate and Heaven … | Wealth and rank have their own measure; aiming too high will cost you. Go back to the familiar road, and things will clear up. |
| No. 20 | Ding-Mao | 前途功名未得意，只恐命內有交加，兩家必定防損失，勸君且退莫咨嗟 Ambitions on the road ahead are not yet met … | Success has not come yet, and things are tangled. Both sides should guard against losses. Take a step back; there is no need for regret. |
| No. 21 | Ding-Si | 十方佛法有靈通，大難禍患不相同，紅日當空常照耀，還有貴人到家堂 The Buddha’s teaching reaches every quarter … | Faith is answered and serious trouble is avoided. The sun is high, and someone who can help will come to your home. |
| No. 22 | Ding-Wei | 太公家業八十成，月出光輝四海明，命內自然逢大吉，茅屋中間百事亨 At eighty Taigong built his house and name … | Jiang Taigong made his fortune at eighty, like the moon lighting the whole world. When the luck arrives it is very good, and even a humble home thrives. |
| No. 23 | Ding-You | 欲去長江水闊茫，前途未遂運未通，如今絲綸常在手，只恐魚水不相逢 You would set out, but the Long River is wide and vast … | You want to set out, but the river is wide and the timing is not there. You have the line in your hand, but the fish and the water may not meet. |
| No. 24 | Ding-Hai | 月出光輝四海明，前途祿位見太平，浮雲掃退終無事，可保禍患不臨身 The moon comes out and lights the four seas … | The moon lights the world, and the road ahead is peaceful. The clouds clear, and trouble stays away. |
| No. 25 | Wu-Zi | 總是前途莫心勞，求神問聖枉是多，但看雞犬日過後，不須作福事如何 Whatever the road ahead, do not wear your heart out … | Do not exhaust yourself over the future, and asking the gods over and over will not help. Once the rooster and dog days have passed, the answer will be clear. |
| No. 26 | Wu-Yin | 選出牡丹第一枝，勸君折取莫遲疑，世間若問相知處，萬事逢春正及時 The finest peony has been chosen for you … | The first bloom of the peony is yours; take it without hesitating. Everything meets its spring, and this is the moment. |
| No. 27 | Wu-Chen | 君爾寬心且自由，門庭清吉家無憂，財寶自然終吉利，凡事無傷不用求 Set your heart at ease and be free … | Relax. Your home is peaceful and free of worry, money comes of its own accord, and nothing is harmed. There is no need to push. |
| No. 28 | Wu-Wu | 於今莫作此當時，虎落平陽被犬欺，世間凡事何難定，千山萬水也遲疑 Do not act now; this is not the hour … | Now is not the time. Like a tiger on open ground, you are out of your element. Things are uncertain and every road looks doubtful. |
| No. 29 | Wu-Shen | 枯木可惜未逢春，如今反在暗中藏，寬心且守風霜退，還君依舊作乾坤 A pity the withered tree has not yet met spring … | The dry tree has not met spring and is still out of sight. Wait calmly for the frost to pass, and you will be back on your feet. |
| No. 30 | Wu-Xu | 漸漸看此月中和，過後須防未得高，改變顏色前途去，凡事必定見重勞 Little by little this month seems calm and fair … | Things look like they are improving, but watch for a stall afterward. If you change course, it will take a lot of hard work. |
| No. 31 | Ji-Chou | 綠柳蒼蒼正當時，任君此去作乾坤，花果結實無殘謝，福祿自有慶家門 The green willows are lush; this is the time … | The willows are in full leaf; go ahead and build. The flowers set fruit that does not drop, and good fortune comes to your home. |
| No. 32 | Ji-Mao | 龍虎相交在門前，此事必定兩相連，黃金忽然變成鐵，何用作福問神仙 Dragon and tiger meet before your gate … | Things are tangled up with each other. Gold suddenly turns to iron, and prayer will not change it. |
| No. 33 | Ji-Si | 欲去長江水闊茫，行舟把定未遭風，戶內用心再作福，看看魚水得相逢 You would set out, and the Long River is wide and vast … | The river is wide, but hold the helm steady and no storm comes. Do good at home, and in the end the right match is found. |
| No. 34 | Ji-Wei | 危險高山行過盡，莫嫌此路有重重，若見蘭桂漸漸發，長蛇反轉變成龍 The dangerous peaks are all behind you now … | The most dangerous mountains are behind you, so do not mind the winding road. When the orchid and cassia bloom, the snake becomes a dragon. |
| No. 35 | Ji-You | 此事何須用心機，前途變怪自然知，看看此去得和合，漸漸脫出見太平 Why spend such cunning on this matter? … | There is no need for scheming; how things change will become clear on its own. They will come together, and bit by bit you will be through the difficulty. |
| No. 36 | Ji-Hai | 福如東海壽如山，君爾何須嘆苦難，命內自然逢大吉，祈保分明自平安 Blessings as deep as the Eastern Sea, years as lasting as the hills … | Blessings as wide as the sea. There is no need to lament your hardships; good fortune is there, and prayer brings peace. |
| No. 37 | Geng-Zi | 運逢得意身顯變，君爾身中皆有益，一向前途無難事，決意之中保清吉 Your luck is rising, and your life is changing … | Your luck is on the rise and the changes are good for you. Nothing ahead is too hard; once you decide, things stay on track. |
| No. 38 | Geng-Yin | 名顯有意在中央，不須祈禱心自安，看看早晚日過後，即時得意在其間 Your name will shine; your hopes stand at the center … | Recognition is in sight. You do not need to pray; your mind will settle. In a little while, things go your way. |
| No. 39 | Geng-Chen | 意中若問神仙路，勸爾且退望高樓，寬心且守寬心坐，必然遇得貴人扶 If you would ask the immortals for the way … | If you want the gods to show you the way, step back first and take the long view. Wait calmly and someone will help you. |
| No. 40 | Geng-Wu | 平生富貴成祿位，君家門戶定光輝，此中必定無損失，夫妻百歲喜相隨 A life of wealth and honor, rank and salary won … | A life of success and a family that shines. Nothing is lost in this matter, and husband and wife grow old together. |
| No. 41 | Geng-Shen | 今行到此實難推，歌歌暢飲自徘徊，雞犬相聞消息近，婚姻夙世結成雙 Having come this far, there is no putting it off … | Things have come to a point you cannot dodge, and you drink and pace. But news is close by, and a match made in a past life is sealed. |
| No. 42 | Geng-Xu | 一重江水一重山，誰知此去路又難，任他改求終不過，是非終久未得安 One river after another, one mountain after another … | River after river, mountain after mountain; the way is hard. Changing your approach will not get you through, and disputes will not settle. |
| No. 43 | Xin-Chou | 一年作事急如飛，君爾寬心莫遲疑，貴人還在千里外，音信月中漸漸知 All year your affairs rush by as if on wings … | Things are moving fast; stay calm and do not waver. The person who can help is still far off, but news will come around mid-month. |
| No. 44 | Xin-Mao | 客到前途多得利，君爾何故兩相疑，雖是中間逢進退，月出光輝得運時 A traveler on the road ahead will profit much … | There is plenty to gain ahead, so why the doubt? There may be ups and downs, but when the moon rises your luck arrives. |
| No. 45 | Xin-Si | 花開今已結成果，富貴榮華終到老，君子小人相會合，萬事清吉莫煩惱 The flowers have bloomed and now bear fruit … | The flowers have set fruit, and good fortune lasts into old age. You will meet all sorts of people, but everything goes well. |
| No. 46 | Xin-Wei | 功名得意與君顯，前途富貴喜安然，若遇一輪明月照，十五團圓光滿天 Success and fame will shine on you … | Success and recognition come to you, and the future is prosperous and calm. When the moon is full, on the fifteenth, everything comes together. |
| No. 47 | Xin-You | 君爾何須問聖跡，自己心中皆有益，於今且看月中旬，凶事脫出化成吉 Why seek a sign from the gods? … | You do not need a sign from the gods; the answer is already in you. Around the middle of the month, trouble turns into good luck. |
| No. 48 | Xin-Hai | 陽世作事未和同，雲遮月色正朦朧，心中意欲前途去，只恐命內運未通 Your worldly dealings are not yet in harmony … | Things are not in harmony yet, like a moon behind clouds. You want to move ahead, but the timing is not there. |
| No. 49 | Ren-Zi | 言語雖多不可從，風雲靜處未行龍，暗中終得明消息，君爾何須問重重 Though many words are spoken, do not follow them … | Do not believe everything people say, and the moment has not come. Clear news will reach you in the end, so there is no need to keep asking. |
| No. 50 | Ren-Yin | 佛前發誓無異心，且看前途得好音，此物原來本是鐵，也能變化得成金 Before the Buddha you vowed with an undivided heart … | You made a sincere vow, and good news is ahead. What started as iron can still be turned into gold. |
| No. 51 | Ren-Chen | 東西南北不堪行，前途此事正可當，勸君把定莫煩惱，家門自有保安康 East, west, south, north: no way is fit to travel … | It is not a good time to go anywhere, but the matter in front of you is one you can handle. Stay steady and do not worry; your home is safe. |
| No. 52 | Ren-Wu | 功名事業本由天，不須掛念意懸懸，若問中間遲與速，風雲際會在眼前 Fame and career are Heaven’s to decide … | Success is up to Heaven, so do not fret over it. As for when: the moment is right in front of you. |
| No. 53 | Ren-Shen | 看君來問心中事，積善之家慶有餘，運亨財子雙雙至，指日喜氣溢門閭 I see you come to ask what weighs on your heart … | A family that does good has blessings to spare. Money and children both arrive, and happiness is at the door. |
| No. 54 | Ren-Xu | 孤燈寂寂夜沉沉，萬事清吉萬事成，若逢陰中有善果，燒得好香達神明 A lone lamp, silent, in the deep of night … | A single lamp in a long night looks lonely, but everything goes well. Good deeds done quietly bear fruit, and sincere prayer is heard. |
| No. 55 | Gui-Chou | 須知進退總虛言，看看發暗未必全，珠玉深藏還未變，心中但得枉徒然 Know that talk of going forward or back is empty … | Talk of advancing or retreating is empty, and things are not complete. The treasure is still hidden, and what you hope for may not happen. |
| No. 56 | Gui-Mao | 病中若得苦心勞，到底完全總未遭，去後不須回頭問，心中事務盡消磨 If, while ill, you wear your heart with toil and worry … | Hard times weigh on you, but in the end no great harm comes. Do not dwell on the past; the worries will fade. |
| No. 57 | Gui-Si | 勸君把定心莫虛，前途清吉得運時，到底中間無大事，又遇神仙守安居 Hold your heart steady; do not let it waver … | Settle your mind; the way ahead is clear and your luck has arrived. Nothing serious happens along the way, and your home is protected. |
| No. 58 | Gui-Wei | 蛇身意欲變成龍，只恐命內運未通，久病且作寬心坐，言語雖多不可從 The snake would like to become a dragon … | The snake wants to become a dragon, but the timing is not there yet. Someone long unwell should rest with a calm mind, and not everything people say should be followed. |
| No. 59 | Gui-You | 有心作福莫遲疑，求名清吉正當時，此事必能成會合，財寶自然喜相隨 If you mean to do good, do not delay … | If you want to do good, do it now; this is the right time to pursue recognition. The matter will come together, and money follows. |
| No. 60 | Gui-Hai | 月出光輝本清吉，浮雲總是蔽蔭色，戶內用心再作福，當官分理便有益 The moon comes out; its light is clear and good … | The moonlight is bright and good, only hidden by passing clouds. Do good at home, and in official matters argue your case reasonably and you will come out ahead. |
The lots are grouped by Heavenly Stem, six to a stem: Jia-Zi, Jia-Yin, Jia-Chen, Jia-Wu, Jia-Shen, Jia-Xu, then Yi-Chou, Yi-Mao, and so on to Gui-Hai. Chinese text from the Jieqian Ge version, checked word by word against other sources.
Different temples, different wording
These poems have circulated among temples for a long time, and the wording often differs. No. 3 reads "Heaven has set your food and clothing" (天註衣祿) in some places and "Heaven has set your marriage" (天註姻緣) in others; No. 4 has 行舟 or 行船 for "set sail"; No. 41 opens with 今行到此 ("having come this far") or 今行到手 ("now it is in hand"). If you drew a lot at a temple, go by that temple’s slip.
Each lot’s element
Traditional printed slips often carry a line such as "belongs to Metal, favors autumn, best toward the west" (屬金利秋，宜其西方). It comes from the Nayin element of the lot’s stem-branch pair: Metal favors autumn and the west, Wood spring and the east, Water winter and the north, Fire summer and the south, and Earth is good all year in every direction. For the Nayin themselves, see Nayin Elements.
Three common misunderstandings
Every set has fixed "best" and "worst" lots.
Temples do not agree on how to rank the Sixty Jiazi lots, so we do not rank them. Read the whole poem against the question you asked.
The Sixty Jiazi oracle and the sixty Jiazi of BaZi are the same thing.
The lots borrow the sixty stem-branch pairs as numbers, but the poems have nothing to do with a BaZi chart. For the pairs themselves, see The Sixty Jiazi.
What the poem says is bound to happen.
A poem is guidance and a reminder in a faith setting, not a prophecy. Big decisions still rest on the real situation.
Poem by poem
No. 1 Jia-Zi
No. 2 Jia-Yin
No. 3 Jia-Chen
No. 4 Jia-Wu
No. 5 Jia-Shen
No. 6 Jia-Xu
No. 7 Yi-Chou
No. 8 Yi-Mao
No. 9 Yi-Si
No. 10 Yi-Wei
No. 11 Yi-You
No. 12 Yi-Hai
No. 13 Bing-Zi
No. 14 Bing-Yin
No. 15 Bing-Chen
No. 16 Bing-Wu
No. 17 Bing-Shen
No. 18 Bing-Xu
No. 19 Ding-Chou
No. 20 Ding-Mao
No. 21 Ding-Si
No. 22 Ding-Wei
No. 23 Ding-You
No. 24 Ding-Hai
No. 25 Wu-Zi
No. 26 Wu-Yin
No. 27 Wu-Chen
No. 28 Wu-Wu
No. 29 Wu-Shen
No. 30 Wu-Xu
No. 31 Ji-Chou
No. 32 Ji-Mao
No. 33 Ji-Si
No. 34 Ji-Wei
No. 35 Ji-You
No. 36 Ji-Hai
No. 37 Geng-Zi
No. 38 Geng-Yin
No. 39 Geng-Chen
No. 40 Geng-Wu
No. 41 Geng-Shen
No. 42 Geng-Xu
No. 43 Xin-Chou
No. 44 Xin-Mao
No. 45 Xin-Si
No. 46 Xin-Wei
No. 47 Xin-You
No. 48 Xin-Hai
No. 49 Ren-Zi
No. 50 Ren-Yin
No. 51 Ren-Chen
No. 52 Ren-Wu
No. 53 Ren-Shen
No. 54 Ren-Xu
No. 55 Gui-Chou
No. 56 Gui-Mao
No. 57 Gui-Si
No. 58 Gui-Wei
No. 59 Gui-You
No. 60 Gui-Hai
A straight word: the poem is faith; the meaning is our plain reading
The Chinese text follows the version compiled by the Jieqian Ge ("Oracle Reading Pavilion") site, checked word by word against other sources; temples differ slightly in wording. The English verse, meaning and tip on each page are our own plain reading of the words, not the temple’s official interpretation. For a real reading, ask the temple where you drew the lot. A poem can offer direction and comfort, but for legal, medical or money problems, please see a professional. Everything on this site is for reference and entertainment.
Beyond the oracle: your own chart
Enter your date of birth to cast your free BaZi Four Pillars chart and see your elements and Ten Gods.
Sixty Jiazi Oracle: common questions
How many poems are in the Sixty Jiazi oracle?
Sixty, numbered by stem-branch pairs from No. 1 Jia-Zi to No. 60 Gui-Hai.
What is the first poem?
No. 1, Jia-Zi: "日出便見風雲散，光明清淨照世間，一向前途通大道，萬事清吉保平安", which we translate as: The sun comes up; the wind and clouds disperse, / Bright and clear, its light falls on the world. / The road ahead runs straight onto the highway; / All goes well, and peace is kept.
How many holy answers do I need when casting the moon blocks?
After drawing a stick you cast the blocks to confirm it. Three holy answers in a row is the usual practice, though each temple has its own rules.
What if I cannot understand the poem?
Ask the temple’s volunteers to explain it. Every lot on this site comes with an English translation and a plain meaning you can use as a starting point.
Why is it also called the Mazu oracle?
Because Mazu temples, the most common temples in Taiwan, mostly use this set; Earth God temples use it too. Other temples may use different sets, such as the 100-poem Guanyin oracle.