138 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I42 



This sign, most lucky, can be applied only when man and place fit together 

 (both most lucky). 



Proof. — A scholar asked about his honor and reputation and got this divining- 

 stick. He said that he would get the first or the second place. After a long time 

 he passed his entrance examination. In the second test, the court test, he was 

 at the top of the list and therefore he was given an office in Shantung Province. 

 From the county administrator (at the bottom) there is the Chou official, 

 then the prefectural official, then the Ts'i official, then the Tao official (the vice- 

 roy), but all were in Shantung Province. It came in response from the last 

 sentence, so altogether this divining-stick had the right response, but also had 

 the opposite response, both positive and negative. The positive response means 

 the highest place in the examination, advance in high position, eternity of 

 wealth, honor, happiness, and longevity. It is unknown in the negative response 

 (that is, how far from the highest). The one who has divined will have to 

 consider his ability and spirit, and his personality, and the situation as it exists. 

 He will know the dexterity of the positive and negative responses. At the second 

 examination in the year of Ping Wu my friend from the same town, Yen Shih- 

 p'ei, got this divining-stick. He wasn't in the list when the bulletin was posted. 

 Early in the sixth moon he went back to Han-Sang. He died of sickness a few 

 days later. 



Comments on another divining-stick: 



MOST UNLUCKY 



It may seem that all good things this year are turning out very brightly; 

 wealth, honor, glory, and prosperity will come to you, who knows the uncer- 

 tainty of the future. Ultimately you stand alone and begin to feel sorry. 



Holy meaning. — Do not over desire. Fame or reputation will not come. 

 Wealth will come about average. You will be at a disadvantage in litigation. 

 Sickness will be fatal. Things will not turn out well. In traveling you will 

 encounter hindrances. 



Explanation by Tung P'li. — Destiny will be hard to be right. 



NO. 90, MEDIUM 



The price of crops this year is not as good as last year. But the prices of 

 other commodities rise 100,000 times. There is a prevailing calamity, and many 

 epidemics. Wait until the turn of another year and it will be all right. 



You will have many lawsuits and they will continue a long time. You will 

 have many sicknesses, and at the end you will be without injury. Wealth and 

 honor will be hard to get. You wait for the time to come. This divining-stick 

 is not so good as before. Furthermore, you will have unexpected troubles. 

 You will have quarrels ; in a long time they will clear up. Wealth is also hard 

 to get. Do not take everything too easy. This divining-stick appears as if 

 there is help. All the hungry appreciate the salvation. Although people suffer 

 severely from calamities, by benevolence they spread all over the kingdom. 



All priests and fortunetellers are paid for their services. Often 

 they are paid more generously if the fortunes they tell are good. 



