《靈濟真君注生堂靈籤》

Lingji Zhenjun's Hall of Birth Divination Sticks: Seventh Group (Vernacular Interpretation)

First Stick (Great Auspice):

Last night you dreamed of bears (an omen foretelling the birth of a son), and joy is soon to grace your household. It is as though Confucius and Śākyamuni (founder of Buddhism) themselves have delivered this child—undoubtedly a prodigious "unicorn offspring" (a metaphor for an extraordinary talent).

Second Stick (Moderate Fortune):

Do not say a daughter is unworthy of celebration—the auspicious dream clearly revealed a viper (a sign of a daughter’s birth). In time, she will marry into nobility, like the rare and precious blossoms north of the Aloeswood Pavilion.

Third Stick (Moderate Misfortune):

Your lineage has flourished for generations, and blessings are ordained by heaven. Yet beware of possible difficulties during childbirth—accumulate more virtuous deeds (De) to ensure safety.

Fourth Stick (Great Misfortune):

Like a flower wilting in wind and rain, it blooms only to wither upon the moss. There is no need to wear the "boy-blessing herb" (a folk custom for seeking sons), as these matters are preordained by past karma.

Fifth Stick (Great Auspice):

Your family’s virtuous legacy (De) flows through generations, and the auspicious jade swallows (a sign of good fortune) bring joyful news. Soon you will hear the robust cry of an infant—prepare the mulberry-wood bow (an ancient childbirth ritual) for celebration.

Sixth Stick (Misfortune):

A son born may not be perfect, nor a daughter complete—guard especially against sudden misfortune. If you do not soon seek divine protection, the journey will be as treacherous as a lone boat crossing rapids.

Seventh Stick (Supreme Fortune):

The courtyard is shaded by a phoenix tree (a tree favored by mythical birds), and the branches already reveal the auspicious yuezhuo (a phoenix-like divine bird). This time, you will receive an extraordinary child—just observe the prominence of his skull to know his boundless future.

Eighth Stick (Moderate Fortune):

Hesitation has delayed the moment, making even the child’s gender uncertain. Now it is made clear to you: like the lotus by the water’s edge, a single blossom will bloom first (possibly hinting at a firstborn daughter).

Ninth Stick (Great Auspice):

Though the pregnancy has faced trials, the time of birth is now at hand. The delivery will proceed smoothly—prepare the jade fruits and rhinoceros coins (gifts for childbirth celebrations) without delay.

Tenth Stick (Moderate Misfortune):

Like planting lotuses on stone with no fruit, or raising chrysanthemums in water that never bloom—even with divine aid sought, the dream still shows a viper (perhaps hinting at difficulties in conceiving a son).

Eleventh Stick (Moderate Fortune):

Spring arrives in the garden with ample rain and dew, and the crabapple blossoms claim the first branch (possibly indicating a firstborn daughter, but one who will thrive).

Twelfth Lot (Great Auspicious):

Breaking free from old patterns naturally ushers in new vitality, like a gentle spring breeze that lifts the spirit. The qilin (auspicious beast) will eventually shake off its golden chains and arrive at your home as a treasured blessing (symbolizing extraordinary fortune).

Thirteenth Lot (Great Misfortune):

The burdens of fate are already hard to bear—why cling to divinations about sons or daughters? By midday, news will come naturally, and all will become clear like the bright moon and refreshing breeze (hinting at letting things unfold naturally).

Fourteenth Lot (Neutral):

All things in this world are governed by heaven; one must purify oneself and seek divine guidance. Clearly, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the clouds will part, revealing the radiant moon (symbolizing a turning point).

Fifteenth Lot (Greatly Auspicious):

The jade swallow (an omen of good fortune) unmistakably flies into your embrace—no need for further doubt. Relatives and friends prepare golden gifts in advance, for a child of exceptional talent is destined to be born.

Sixteenth Lot (Auspicious):

Auspicious qi fills the household, and an auspicious dream confirms the omen of the Great White Star (Venus, a sign of good fortune). A noble child will surely be born—do not say this humble home merely gains an ordinary one.

Seventeenth Lot (Misfortune):

Fate moves at its own pace—why fret over gains and losses? Remember the sages’ teaching: climbing a tree to catch fish is futile (a metaphor for misguided efforts).

Eighteenth Lot (Moderate Neutral):

The red peach blossoms wither in rivalry, while the fragrant osmanthus (symbolizing opportunity) remains unseen. Do not overreach for blessings yet to come—patience until autumn (the right time) is needed.

Nineteenth Lot (Moderate Neutral):

If you quietly accumulate hidden virtue (yinde), jade trees and orchids (symbolizing outstanding descendants) will flourish in your courtyard. The family legacy holds great promise—no need to imitate the wasp raising another’s offspring (a metaphor for adopting heirs).

Twentieth Lot (Great Misfortune):

Dark clouds shroud the moon, and a cold wind scatters blossoms, preventing fruition. Crows and magpies nest together in clamor—good and ill fortune remain indistinguishable.

Twenty-First Lot (Moderate Misfortune):

Recent years still bring unfavorable luck—do not speak idly of dragon colts or phoenix chicks (symbolizing exceptional heirs). To discern present fortune, accumulate virtue quietly to aid your path.

Twenty-Second Lot (Moderate Neutral):

Inquiring about pregnancy follows its own karma—the viper (an ancient omen in dreams) has appeared repeatedly as a sign.

Interpretation of the Lingji Zhenjun's Life-Giving Hall Oracles (Plain Translation)

No. 23 (Upper-Middle)

Like fragrant orchids and osmanthus standing apart from the mundane, your household is about to welcome auspicious times. Don't fret over delayed outcomes—heaven's arrangements unfold naturally. There's no need for haste.

No. 24 (Lower-Lower)

Like the foolish farmer who idly waits by a tree stump for rabbits instead of tilling his fields, you mock others for coveting the mid-autumn moon while failing to notice the pearl slipping from your own plate (symbolizing major loss for minor gain).

No. 25 (Middle)

Fruit trees sprout in spring; with timely rain and dew, they flourish. The ripened fruit will eventually be yours to harvest—just don't be startled by rustling leaves (i.e., don't hesitate when opportunity arrives).

No. 26 (Upper-Auspicious)

Like a young phoenix (auspicious omen) basking in dawn light, its plumage grows radiant until destined splendor manifests. Such blessings come not by chance—they stem from your family's accumulated virtue (De) across generations.

No. 27 (Middle-Neutral)

Laugh at those celebrating excessively—mistaking a newborn daughter ("handling tiles") for a son ("handling jade"). If the child is healthy and easy to raise, even a humble bed of coarse mats (lower bamboo, upper reed) suffices.

No. 28 (Upper-Middle)

Houses that accumulate goodness reap enduring blessings—indeed, one may find pearls when diving deep. Yet beware: smooth paths may twist, so sincerely seek the divine (Shen) guardians' protection.

No. 29 (Middle-Lower)

Last night you dreamed of crimson blossoms (auspicious sign), today you seek the oracle's verdict. Clearly, this stems from lingering doubts—yet your fortune lies quietly in life's ordinary moments.

No. 30 (Lower-Lower)

Cease endless worrying; follow nature's flow. Like failing to find ocean pearls only to encounter rivers aflame (symbolizing compounded misfortunes).

No. 31 (Upper-Auspicious)

Unseen virtue (Yin De, hidden good deeds) silently supports you—after traversing rugged paths, level ground appears. Soon, "field's strength" (metaphor for offspring) will aid you; prepare the ritual arrows of mugwort and mulberry bows (ancient birth ceremony implements).

No. 32 (Middle-Lower)

Moonlight illuminates inner chambers—you hoped to dream of bears (auspicious male birth sign) but visions blurred. Don't lament unmet wishes; focus instead on quietly cultivating virtue (De).

No. 33 (Upper-Middle)

When time ripens, fulfillment comes naturally; destined connections need no forcing. Rather than burning incense to interrogate spirits, calmly await destiny's unfolding.

(Note: These Taoist divination slips contain metaphorical guidance. Historical references include: "handling jade/tiles" denoting birth gender, "bears" as male birth omens, and "mugwort arrows/mulberry bows" as traditional childbirth ritual objects.)

Interpretation of the Lingji Zhenjun's Life-Giving Hall Oracles (Modern Chinese to English Translation)

34th Oracle (Lower Lower):

Toiling in the fields, hoping for a bountiful harvest—yet the land is overrun with weeds. From now on, be diligent in tending to it, and beware of the two unruly oxen (symbolizing dual obstacles).

35th Oracle (Upper Middle):

Ascend the mountain to find priceless jade; dive into the waters to retrieve luminous pearls (the "night-shining pearls" refer to radiant treasures). Prepare precious items like jade vessels and rhinoceros horns in advance (indicating thorough preparation), for auspicious energy already fills your home.

36th Oracle (Middle Upper):

When fortune wanes, even gold loses its luster; when luck arrives, even iron trees bloom. Now, joyous events follow one after another—no longer must you sigh in vain as before.

37th Oracle (Middle Lower):

For thirty years, fortune eluded you; all efforts seemed wasted. Yet one day, while wandering the southern seas, you unexpectedly found a pearl in your palm (symbolizing an unforeseen blessing).

38th Oracle (Middle Neutral):

Words linger unspoken, like sugar melting on the tongue. Will good fortune truly come to pass? Patience is still required through many dawns and dusks.

39th Oracle (Lower Lower):

The Three Corpses (Daoist concept of three malevolent spirits within the body) stir up endless trouble, bringing unseen calamities and unrest. Even if flowers bloom and bear fruit, the harvest will be inedible.

40th Oracle (Middle Neutral):

The Golden Crow (ancient name for the sun) spreads its wings southward—this matter is clear beyond doubt. Swallows returning to their nests and wind chimes sounding are both auspicious signs, yet prayers are still needed to dispel lingering worries.

41st Oracle (Middle Neutral):

Do not fret over the fate of descendants; life’s workings are preordained. Understand the principle of Yin-Yang harmony (the "balance of firm and yielding" refers to the Dao of Yin-Yang), like last night’s moonbeams entering your embrace (the "essence of Yin" symbolizes conception).

42nd Oracle (Middle Upper):

Planting flowers with great care yields no blossoms, yet casually placed willow twigs flourish into shade. Now, with the east wind’s aid, whether you plant flowers or willows, all will thrive as you wish.

43rd Oracle (Upper Middle):

Though your noble lineage spans distant years, a phoenix-child or dragon-steed (symbolizing an exceptional heir) can indeed be summoned. If you seek the precise timing, it shall be within these next few days.

44th Oracle (Middle Middle):

The Spring God (Dongjun) scatters warm sunlight, and the beauty before you lifts the spirit with ease.

Interpretation of the Lingji Zhenjun's "Life-Giving Hall" Spiritual Lots

Lot 45 (Moderate Fortune):

Like a drowsy dream upon a bamboo mat, where one clearly sees a snake transform into a dragon. This omen foretells the birth of a noble daughter, destined to receive honors akin to the titled ladies of antiquity (the "fish-carriage" refers to noble conveyances).

Lot 46 (Upper-Moderate Fortune):

Since ancient times, when Yin reaches its peak, it turns to Yang—just as the noble one's fortune is on the rise. Before the dream of the golden tortoise is even complete, the cry of a newborn is already heard in the birthing chamber.

Lot 47 (Upper-Moderate Fortune):

This auspicious sign comes from the Book of Changes hexagram "Earth over Lake" (临, Lin), indicating smooth progress in all matters. The long-held wish for a son (the "bear dream" symbolizes male offspring) is now fulfilled, like sifting sand to finally uncover true gold.

Lot 48 (Great Fortune):

Good fortune is clearly at hand—even the celebratory jade fruits and rhinoceros coins are prepared. Who would dare call this an ordinary child upon entering the household? The broad, square forehead reveals a future of great promise.

Lot 49 (Moderate-Low Fortune):

The signs of pregnancy remain uncertain, filling one with doubt. Like moonlight shining not upon the eastern laurel tree, but upon a wild rose (hinting at the possibility of a daughter).

Lot 50 (Low Fortune):

Hardships persist like fruitless searches for jade and pearls. Yet last night, while admiring the moon in the rear garden, one clearly saw Chang'e in her lunar palace (suggesting a favorable outcome in the end).

Lot 51 (Very Low Fortune):

When spring mist disperses, the green mountains and clear waters seem beautiful—but fishermen should not cast their hooks here, for there are no fish (symbolizing that the time for seeking offspring has not yet arrived).

Lot 52 (Good Fortune):

Cutting open a pear reveals a red serpent—a divine auspicious sign. The child’s broad, jade-like forehead (indicating nobility) foretells future glory for the family.

Lot 53 (Upper-Moderate Fortune):

In the height of spring, Yin and Yang harmoniously merge. Guests fill the hall to celebrate the newborn, just as poems were once composed for Xu Qing’s twin sons.

Lot 54 (Low Fortune):

Sifting sand yields no gold—desires remain unfulfilled. Hasten to seek divine aid, lest one face the calamity of "stone-skin river fire" (possibly a reference to elemental conflicts in the Five Phases).

Lot 55 (Moderate-Upper Fortune):

Better than living in grand halls with lavish feasts (symbolizing wealth and luxury) is the joy of having a son to bring true fulfillment.

Vernacular Interpretation of the Oracle Slips from the Zhusheng Hall of Lingji Zhenjun:

Fifty-sixth Slip (Lower-Middle):

In your heart you are both glad and uneasy; a good thing is at hand, yet its outcome is unclear. It is like the peach and plum trees in the back courtyard, about to bear fruit, but you fear a sudden gust will blow the fruit down. (This suggests that success or failure depends on external factors.)

Fifty-seventh Slip (Lower-Lower):

Standing by the Yangtze, you cannot see to its end; on both banks the reeds rustle bleakly—it is already late autumn. At midnight the water is cold and the fish do not bite; the fisherman lowers his golden hook in vain and waits for nothing. (A metaphor for wrong timing and wasted effort.)

Fifty-eighth Slip (Middle-Middle):

Early in the morning magpies chatter at the gate, foretelling that the jade tree before the steps is about to bloom. But you must rely all the more on accumulating virtue and doing good day by day; only then can a joyful matter avoid turning into a fright. (This emphasizes the importance of accumulating hidden virtue.)

Fifty-ninth Slip (Upper-Auspicious):

Doing good naturally draws a hundred kinds of auspiciousness; the whole house laughs and delights in jade vessels and gui-zhang tablets. Tomorrow there will be something even more worthy of praise—a jade ring found in a tree hollow identifies the young man surnamed Yang. (The allusion of “Yang Gong’s jade ring” foretells good fortune.)

Sixtieth Slip (Upper-Middle):

Your own concerns are clearest to you; the hidden virtue of your ancestors follows you unseen. It is like a hawk flying out from a dove’s nest—how could a tiger’s den fail to produce leopard cubs? (A metaphor for extraordinary gains from seemingly ordinary places.)

Sixty-first Slip (Lower):

The road ahead is rough and uneven; mist and rain blur it so you cannot see clearly. I advise you that rushing on the road makes it easy to fall—why not proceed calmly and steadily? (A warning against the risk of reckless advance.)

Sixty-second Slip (Middle-Upper):

Rather than burn incense and click your teeth in prayer to the immortals, it is better to diligently and earnestly cultivate the field of blessings. Most of what you seek now can come true—truly like a red lotus blooming in fierce fire. (This emphasizes practical cultivation over empty petitioning.)

Sixty-third Slip (Lower-Lower):

Rolling up the blinds high to welcome spring, alas, the spring light does not accord with human wishes. Planting lotus on a rock and vainly hoping for lotus roots wastes effort and drains the spirit. (A metaphor for futile labor that goes against natural laws.)

Sixty-fourth Slip:

While it is spring, sweep the green moss from the courtyard and plant peach and plum trees in good time; do not hesitate. If the God of Spring (Dongjun) grants your wish, in the end he will return to you a whole tree in blossom. (This urges people to seize the moment and quietly await good fruit.)

(Note: oracle slips are a Daoist divination tool that reveal fortune through metaphorical verse. “Hidden virtue” refers to merit gained by doing good unseen; “cultivating the field of blessings” is a metaphor for accumulating good causes to obtain good results; “Dongjun” is the deity who presides over spring.)