Mazu Kau Chim
Mazu Kau Chim Sign 22
Sign 22 of 100
The verse
福澤從來未易求枉勞心力費鑽謀到頭無益徒貽笑疾病相侵萬事休
In English
Blessing has never been easy to seek.Scheming only wastes effort and heart.In the end it brings no benefit, only laughter from others.When illness comes pressing in, all affairs must stop.
Textual notes
疾病 is sometimes written as 癡病.
The twelve aspects
A temple slip does not give one answer. The same four lines are read differently depending on what you came to ask about, and these are the twelve readings traditionally set down for this sign.
- Health
- Medicine has little effect; fate is truly dangerous.
- Career and Recognition
- True honor rests with heaven. What use is anxious planning?
- Business
- After using every scheme, the road still comes to an end.
- Pregnancy and Children
- Labor of mind and body; childbirth is difficult.
- Marriage
- The partners do not fit. Why force the matter?
- Travel
- Running through wind and rain is only fruitless labor.
- Household
- The household carries many burdens; first settle yourself.
- Wealth
- Hard work and hardship bring major loss.
- Current Fortune
- The source of wealth is dark; there is no fortune to move with.
- Lost Item
- Like a stone sunk into the sea; there is no need to pursue it.
- Farming
- Fields are barren; even dogs cannot thrive.
- Legal Matters
- The time is weak and fortune blocked; harm is hard to avoid.