Yue Lao Oracle Lot 89 · Fair

卜以決疑，不疑何卜？ We cast lots to settle doubt; with no doubt, why cast them?

The lot

Background: what the original says

Dou Lian, a general of the state of Chu, said that divination exists to resolve uncertainty, so if you are not uncertain, there is no reason to divine.

In 701 BC, the Zuo Zhuan (Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals) records, the Chu commander Qu Xia was on his way to make a treaty with two small states. The state of Yun had camped at Pusao, planning to join four neighbours in attacking him, and Qu Xia was worried.

His general Dou Lian laid out a plan. Yun's troops, camped on their own doorstep, would be careless. Let Qu Xia hold off the four states while he struck Yun by night with picked men; once Yun broke, the others would scatter. Should we ask the king for more troops? Qu Xia asked. Victory depends on unity, not numbers, said Dou Lian. Then should we consult the oracle? Dou Lian answered: "Divination is for resolving doubt. If there is no doubt, why divine?"

Chu routed Yun at Pusao and the treaty was sealed. Among temple lots the saying carries a quiet irony, since drawing a lot is itself a kind of divination.

What it means

Deep down you already know the answer. Act on your own judgment.

Reminder: Trust your own judgment.

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 88; next: Lot 90.