Yue Lao Oracle Lot 64 · Good, steady

齊大非吾耦也。 Qi is too great to be my match.

The lot

Background: what the original says

The ruler of Qi wanted to marry his daughter to Hu, crown prince of Zheng, but Hu declined, saying the powerful state of Qi was not a fitting match for him.

When northern tribes invaded the state of Qi, Hu, crown prince of neighboring Zheng, led an army to its rescue and routed the invaders. Years earlier the lord of Qi had offered Hu his daughter, and Hu had declined: everyone has a proper match, he said, and Qi was too great to be his; good fortune had to come from himself, not a powerful in-law. After the victory Qi offered again, and Hu refused once more, saying it would look as if he had marched out just to bring home a bride.

The minister Zhai Zhong urged him to accept, since without a strong ally Hu might never hold the throne against his favored brothers. Hu would not listen. He did succeed his father, but was soon driven out by a brother backed by the state of Song, returned years later, and was finally killed by one of his own ministers. "Qi is too great to be my match" became a byword for a marriage between unequal houses.

What it means

A big gap in background or circumstances may not suit you. Finding someone who fits you matters more than finding someone with the best credentials.

Reminder: Do not strain to marry up, and do not be scared off by credentials either; look at whether you are truly compatible.

This is a plain reading of the words and their source. How it applies to your own question is best settled with the interpreter at the temple where you drew it.

How to ask Yue Lao for a lot

1. Yue Lao, the Old Man under the Moon, usually has a side shrine inside a larger temple, such as a City God temple or a Mazu temple. Follow the temple's route: pay respects to the main deity first, then go to Yue Lao.
2. Tell Yue Lao your name, birth date and address, describe where you are in love right now, and state the one question you want to ask (for example, "Will this relationship last?" or "When will I meet someone?").
3. 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 and cast again to confirm it. Many temples ask for three yeses in a row; if not, draw again.
4. Collect the slip with the matching number. Yue Lao lots are quotations from old books, so the meaning often depends on the original passage. If it is unclear, ask the temple's interpreter.

Ask about one thing at a time; the more specific the question, the easier the lot is to apply. Yue Lao lots are for love and marriage only; for other matters, use the temple's general fortune poems.

Common misunderstandings

Previous: Lot 63; next: Lot 65.