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Rejoice in giving, sow good seeds widely.

After drawing a fortune stick, practicing good deeds and charity can further fulfill your blessings. Jin Huan Taizi Palace thanks all benefactors for their recognition and support. All donations received will be fully used for the promotion of the temple and charitable causes. May Brother Qiu bless you, may all your wishes be fulfilled, and may all your endeavors be smooth.

Golden Ring Fortune Slip

Chapter 21: [Fire-Thunder Consume, Tao Yuanming's Seclusion]

My morning robes shed, my body feels light.

Three paths of yellow chrysanthemums are famously precious.

Sweeping leaves and brewing tea, I find joy even in poverty.

Plant five willows diligently, awaiting spring's glory.

  • Love: There will be obstacles. Success will come if you push forward bravely, otherwise, give up.
  • Family Fortune: If there is discord in the family, set aside prejudices, otherwise there will be no harmonious living.
  • Pregnancy: The fetus is startled.
  • Children: Stubborn, rebellious children.
  • Turnover: The hexagram clearly indicates difficulties, but sincerity may lead to a favorable resolution.
  • Buying and selling: Many obstacles and much gossip. Do not give up; success is possible.
  • Diseases: May involve neurological or tumor conditions.
  • Lost item: Two people are arguing over the loss of this item. It's not easily noticed at first.
  • When involved in a lawsuit, it is advisable to take strong measures unless absolutely unnecessary.
  • Business: It's prone to complications and leads to many side issues; only by actively seeking solutions can achievements be made.
  • Academics: Poor.
Hexagram interpretation:
"Shi" means "to bite." "Ke" means "to combine fragmented things." Therefore, "Shi Ke" means "to bite and break something into pieces, then put them back together." Look at the hexagram's form: the first and top lines, both yang, are like the upper and lower lips; the second, third, and fifth lines, all yin, are like teeth, with the fourth yang line sandwiched in between. This forms the image of something being chewed and broken within the mouth, after which the upper and lower lips come together. Simultaneously, the lower trigram (Zhen) represents a strong man, and the upper trigram (Li) represents a middle-aged woman. Now, the strong man is beneath the middle-aged woman, coexisting harmoniously. This indicates compatibility of temperaments. Based on these symbolic meanings, this hexagram is named "Shi Ke Hexagram."
第廿一首正面（噬嗑）
Front of the fortune slip
第廿一首背面（噬嗑）
Back of the fortune slip
金
環
語
錄

You can't have both fish and bear paws.
There is no such thing as getting everything you want.

Interpretation of fortune stick person

Tao Yuanming (circa 365–427), whose given name was Qian, or possibly Yuanming. It is said that in the Jin Dynasty his name was Yuanming, with the courtesy name Liang. After entering the Liu Song Dynasty, he changed his name to Qian. People of the Tang Dynasty, to avoid the taboo of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, referred to him as Tao Shenming or Tao Quanming. He called himself Mr. Five Willows, and was privately bestowed the posthumous title Mr. Jingjie (Tao Zhengshi Lei). He was a native of Xunyang, Chaisang (present-day southwest of Jiujiang, Jiangxi). He was a writer of the Jin Dynasty. He is famous for his fresh and natural poetry and prose. Related works include "Drinking Wine," "Homeward Bound," "The Peach Blossom Spring," "Biography of Mr. Five Willows," "The Ode of Return," "Poem on the Peach Blossom Spring," and others.

Annotation

Shedding morning robes, the body feels light: Removing official robes, one feels light and unburdened. Three paths of yellow chrysanthemums are honored: Three paths – referring to one's home, or symbolizing retirement. Planting chrysanthemums along three paths, with five willows, returning towards the eastern fence. Sweeping leaves to brew tea, even in poverty, there is joy: Sweeping leaves to brew tea – symbolizing leisure and contentment. Sweeping fallen leaves and brewing tea, content with poverty and happy to follow the Tao. Diligently planting five willows awaiting spring's bloom: Dismissed from office, with free time, planting five willows before Tao's door. Diligently planting willow trees, awaiting their sprouting and growth in the spring of next year.

Vernacular

Tao Yuanming resigned from public office and, along with his family, moved to Lushan Mountain, to a place called Li County. There, he began to live a simple, rustic life. In his leisure, he cultivated three paths of yellow chrysanthemums and planted five willow trees. He swept fallen leaves, brewed tea, and found contentment in his humble circumstances, embracing a philosophy of peaceful enjoyment. He diligently tended to the willow trees, awaiting their blossoming and growth in the coming spring.

Fortune telling by lot

Tao Yuanming was indifferent to worldly strife, detached from fame and fortune, with a clear mind and deep insight. His scholarly integrity, far from the madding crowd and renouncing worldly pursuits, is greatly respected. Therefore, this lot is drawn: a peaceful and calm life, with no pursuit of gain. For all matters: it is best to seize the time. For the month: auspicious in spring. For wealth: modest gains, good in spring. For new ventures: suboptimal; for old ventures: steady. For lost items: hidden in secret. For a great destiny: seek divine intervention to resolve lingering issues. For travel: expect hardship and frost.

Divination Meaning

This hexagram is named "Shi He," meaning to bite or chew. It reveals the principle that the use of punishment must be based on confirmed laws, be clear and decisive, and apply both leniency and severity. This embodies the early Chinese thought on the rule of law. In the hexagram's imagery, the first and top lines represent lips, the second, third, and fifth lines represent teeth, and the fourth line represents an obstacle between the upper and lower teeth that must be bitten through for closure, hence the name "Shi He." The hexagram's shape resembles food within a mouth, as if about to be chewed, thus it is named "Shi He." How does biting and chewing relate to punishment? There are several possible explanations. Wang Bi states, "Shi means to gnaw. Gnawing refers to punishment and subduing." According to Wang Bi, "Shi" can be used to refer to punishment and subduing. Therefore, "Shi" can be seen as a pun or metaphor, simultaneously referring to biting an object and the application of punishment. While ancient I Ching scholars' interpretations may differ slightly, their general arguments do not deviate from Wang Bi's framework.
Chen Guoying believes that "Shi Zhe Jue Ye" means that Shi He is the process of resolving and reuniting, which refers to the execution of criminal law. This view can also be referenced. Another modern scholar proposes that the hexagram Shi He tells a story about eating meat violating etiquette and receiving punishment, deriving the meaning from the second line, "Eating flesh, one loses one's nose." Obtaining this hexagram in divination extends to an image of obstacles and harm to benefits. Furthermore, thunder represents unexpected disasters. With Li (fire) above and Zhen (wood) below, fire burns wood, and wood generates fire. The lower trigram, Zhen (wood), will be completely consumed by fire. Therefore, this hexagram also symbolizes a beautiful and attractive outer appearance (Li fire) that continuously depletes inner energy and savings, extending to the meaning of consuming one's resources without replenishment.