Online Moon Block Oracle: Yes, Laughing and No Casts
Stuck on a decision and no time to visit a temple? Cast moon blocks on your phone or computer: hold your question in mind, then tap, press and hold, or shake. The two blocks land and you see straight away whether it is yes, laughing or no. Below you will find what each result means and how to ask so the answer is clear.
Cast the moon blocks: ask one yes-or-no question
Hold one question in mind, ideally something that can be answered "yes" or "no". When you are ready, press Cast. On a phone you can also press and hold the blocks to build up and let go, or turn on shake and toss them the way people do at a temple.
Press and hold the blocks to build up, then let go to cast
The result comes from your browser's secure random numbers, with each block landing flat side up half of the time: "yes" one in two, "laughing" and "no" one in four each. Your question is never sent or saved. Please treat the result as reflection and entertainment.
Want a full fortune poem? Guanyin fortune poems →
What moon blocks are
Casting moon blocks (zhijiao, also called poe or bwa bwei) is the most common way to put a question to a deity in Taiwanese temples. The blocks are two crescent-shaped pieces of wood or bamboo, flat on one side and rounded on the other. After praying, you tell the deity your name, address and question, then let the pair fall to the floor. Which sides land facing up is the answer.
Moon blocks are also used when drawing a fortune poem, to confirm that the lot you pulled is the one meant for you.
Reading yes, laughing and no
| Result | How the blocks land | Usual meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yes (sheng jiao) | One flat side up, one round side up | The deity agrees. The answer is yes. |
| Laughing (xiao jiao) | Both flat sides up | The deity laughs and gives no answer. The question may be unclear, or you may already know the answer. Ask another way. |
| No (yin jiao) | Both round sides up | The deity does not agree. The answer is no, or not yet. |
The laughing result puzzles many people. Temples usually explain it as the deity smiling at the question: it was too vague, it was asked too many times, or the answer is already obvious. Rephrase the question before casting again.
How to ask for a clear answer
- Ask one thing at a time. "Should I change jobs and move house?" is two questions.
- Make it a yes-or-no question. "Is this month good for interviews?" gets a clearer answer than "How is my career?"
- Say who is asking. At a temple you state your name, birthday and address; online, saying it silently is enough.
- Do not keep recasting the same question. If the answer is not the one you hoped for, change the question or the plan.
How many casts count
For an everyday yes-or-no question, one cast is enough. For something important, many people wait for three "yes" casts in a row as a firm answer, and the same rule confirms a lot when drawing a fortune poem. This tool keeps count of your "yes" streak and of how many of each result you have cast during this visit.
To draw a full fortune poem, try the Guanyin fortune poems, the Mazu 100 fortune poems or the sixty Jiazi temple poems. Their online draw follows the temple custom of three "yes" casts in a row.
Online casting and temple casting
Real blocks land according to the force of the throw, the floor and the shape of the wood. Online casting uses secure random numbers, with each block landing flat side up half of the time. Building up or shaking harder only changes how many times the blocks spin in the animation, never the result.
Casting online is a quiet way to sort out your thoughts when you cannot get to a temple: turning a long worry into one yes-or-no question already tells you a lot about what you want. For a truly big decision, talk it through with people you trust, or ask at a temple in person.
Want a full fortune poem?
Moon blocks answer yes or no; a fortune poem gives fuller guidance. The online draw follows the temple custom, with three "yes" casts in a row to confirm your lot.
Moon block questions
Is online moon block casting accurate?
The result comes from secure random numbers with the same odds as two real blocks landing either way: yes one in two, laughing and no one in four each. It cannot replace asking at a temple and works best for sorting out your own thoughts. Please treat it as reflection and entertainment.
What does a laughing cast mean?
Both flat sides face up, and the deity is said to laugh without answering. Usually the question was too vague, several things were asked at once, or the answer is obvious. Turn it into one clear yes-or-no question and cast again.
Do I need three yes casts in a row?
For an everyday question one cast is enough. For something important, or when confirming a fortune poem, the custom is three yes casts in a row. This tool keeps count of your streak.
Can I keep casting the same question?
Temples usually advise against it. After a no or a laughing cast, it is more useful to change the plan or the timing and ask again, for example "Is this month good for interviews?" instead of "Should I change jobs?"
Shaking my phone does nothing. Why?
On iPhone, tap "Turn on shake to cast" first and allow motion access. Some browsers and computers cannot detect shaking at all; use the button, or press and hold the blocks and let go.
Is my question recorded?
No. It stays in the input box on your device. It is never sent to a server, added to the address or saved, and it clears when you reload the page.