The Sleepy Immortal

Chinese fortune poems, one page each

Mazu's Fortune Poems

Mazu Fortune Poem No. 10: When good times peak, hard times follow, and you don't see it.

Mazu Fortune Poem No. 10 is paired with the Xiao Guo · Small Exceeding hexagram. In plain words: Luck rises and falls, the way the seasons turn. Save up a little good will while things are easy, and the low times won't rattle you.

Xiao Guo · Small Exceeding
When good times peak, hard times follow, and you don't see it.Round and round it goes; the Way plays no favorites.You look back on the bright days you once had,and wish you had come to pray a little sooner.

Original Chinese

泰極否來汝不知循環往復道無私回思昔日風光好却悔今朝禱告遲

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Questions people ask

Is Mazu Fortune Poem No. 10 a good fortune?

This set is not ranked from good to bad here. What matters is the reminder: Luck rises and falls, the way the seasons turn. Save up a little good will while things are easy, and the low times won't rattle you. The choice is yours.

What does Mazu Fortune Poem No. 10 say in English?

When good times peak, hard times follow, and you don't see it. / Round and round it goes; the Way plays no favorites. / You look back on the bright days you once had, / and wish you had come to pray a little sooner.

Different temples may use slightly different versions.

A fortune poem is a reminder, not an order. The choice is yours.

Chinese poem font: Wang Han-zong Li Shu (GPL v2), with a few added glyphs