If you've ever walked into a Chinese temple and seen a wooden cylinder bristling with numbered sticks, you've seen Kau Chim — known in English as Chinese fortune sticks. The system looks simple: pick a number, read the matching poem, go home. But the structure underneath is older and more deliberate than most people realise.
The 100-Stick System
The classical Guanyin Oracle contains exactly 100 sticks. This number is not arbitrary — it mirrors the classical Chinese belief that human experience can be mapped onto 100 distinct "situations," each with its own energetic signature and advice.
Some temple traditions use 78 or 64 sticks (the latter aligning with the I-Ching's 64 hexagrams), but the Guanyin system at most major temples in Asia — from Wong Tai Sin in Hong Kong to Longshan in Taipei — is the 100-stick canon.
Omen Levels
Each of the 100 signs is classified into one of seven omen levels:
| Level | Name (Chinese) | Frequency | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 上上 | Supreme Fortune | rare | Alignment — proceed confidently |
| 上吉 | Great Fortune | uncommon | Favorable — small course corrections help |
| 中吉 | Moderate Fortune | common | Mixed — outcome depends on your actions |
| 中平 | Neutral | common | Steady — no extraordinary gain or loss |
| 下下 | Poor Fortune | uncommon | Warning — current path has a blind spot |
| 末吉 / 小吉 | Minor Fortune | occasional | Small wins — don't overreach |
| 凶 | Ill Omen | rare | Delay major decisions — wait for better timing |
At Oracle Day, all 100 classical signs are included. Each comes with its original four-line poem and a plain-language interpretation.
What the Poem Structure Does
Every sign follows the same four-line pattern:
1. Opening image — a natural scene (a dragon, a moon, a bamboo grove) 2. Development — what is happening in that scene 3. Turning point — a question or contrast 4. Resolution — what the imagery implies about your situation
The poem is not meant to be read literally. The imagery is a mirror — you bring the question, and the poem reflects back the dimension of it you weren't seeing.
For example, Guanyin Oracle Lot 23 — the "Climbing the Moon Palace for Laurels" sign — uses the image of a scholar plucking the cassia tree of the moon to suggest that what feels difficult is actually within reach. But the reader brings the question. If you're asking about a job interview, it means the role is yours to lose. If you're asking about a relationship, it means the other person is more open than you think.
Career, Love, Health, Wealth — the Four Domains
Each of the 100 signs is traditionally interpreted across four life domains:
- Career (事業) — work, projects, achievement
- Love (姻緣) — relationships, marriage, compatibility
- Health (健康) — body, energy, medical decisions
- Wealth (財運) — money, investments, financial timing
The same sign will read differently in each domain. A sign about "patient waiting" might be excellent for wealth (hold positions, don't trade) and terrible for career (delaying a decision causes harm). Oracle Day presents all four interpretations for every sign.
Common Questions
"Does the number itself mean anything?" Low numbers (1–20) tend to be more auspicious in traditional classification, but there's no strict rule. Trust the poem, not the number.
"Why does the same stick appear with different poems at different temples?" Temples use different recensions of the oracle. Oracle Day uses the most widely circulated Guanyin canon, which is the version you'd find at most Chan (Zen) Buddhist temples.
"Can I draw multiple signs for one question?" No. The first stick is the answer. See our how-to-draw guide for why.
Browse All 100 Signs
Want to explore the full canon? Every sign has its own page with the poem, interpretation, and four-domain reading:
Or draw one at random at oracleday.xyz.