The 60 Jiazi Fortune Poems: all 60 poems explained

The 60 Jiazi Fortune Poems has 60 poems. Sixty poems, one for each pair in the 60-year cycle. Many temples in Taiwan use this set. Each one has its own page with the poem in English and Chinese, a plain-English reading, advice for common questions, and the story behind it. Tap a number to read it.

What each poem is about

• No. 1 Emperor Taizong Enjoys the Peace
  The clouds are clearing and life is calm
• No. 2 Emperor Taizong Sends Wu Meiniang to See the Flowers
  Your moment is close, and the buds are about to open
• No. 3 Shen Wanshan's Buried Treasure and the Zhengde Emperor
  Keep your heart steady and don't compete; you'll have enough and some to spare
• No. 4 Li Bai Becomes an Immortal
  Calm water and easy days, and autumn is your best season
• No. 5 Pang Juan Betrays Sun Bin
  Changes are coming, but don't panic
• No. 6 Lu Xun Wanders into the Stone Maze
  It's a rainy season, and things won't come together easily, but it will pass
• No. 7 Wang Zhaojun in the Cold Palace
  The clouds will part and things will slowly become clear
• No. 8 Zhuge Liang Harvests the Wheat at Longxi
  Your hard work is ready to harvest, and both sides come out well
• No. 9 Emperor Taizu of Song Meets Huyan Zan
  Two strong forces meet on a narrow road, so don't push head-on
• No. 10 Li Gange Prays for a Child at Mount Wudang
  This year, pause and hold steady
• No. 11 The Great Roc Troubles the Song Dynasty
  However noisy things get, keep your heart steady
• No. 12 Mei Liangyu and Chen Chunsheng Find Rescue
  Trouble may come, but someone will help you
• No. 13 The Last Battles of General Li Guang and His Son
  When you're stuck, pull back and wait for the tide to lift the boat
• No. 14 Lady Wang Is Blessed with Twin Sons
  Wait, and keep your heart easy
• No. 15 Liang Hao Becomes Top Scholar at Last
  Good luck is on its way, just slowly, and late luck is still luck
• No. 16 Pan An Tops the Imperial Exam
  Hit the brakes when things are going your way, and save some strength for yourself
• No. 17 Pang Juan Falls on the Road at Maling
  Leave old grudges where they are and don't add to them
• No. 18 Shao Liang and His Son Meet Huang Yuniang
  You don't have to carry this alone
• No. 19 Su Qin Comes Home Empty-Handed
  Lower your sights a little and go back to the road you know best
• No. 20 Zhu Bian Is Sent to Cold Mountain
  When things pile up, step back and handle them one at a time
• No. 21 Guanyin Tames the Great Roc
  Steady your heart, and if it's too heavy for one, share the load
• No. 22 Han Xin Is Named Commander
  Luck comes late, but it comes
• No. 23 Jiang Taigong Fishes by the Wei River
  If you can't see the far shore, don't rush across
• No. 24 Yang Wenguang's Campaign in the South
  Some troubles may knock, but they can all be solved, and good things brighten slowly…
• No. 25 Liu Wenliang Says Goodbye to His Wife
  Go easy on your heart; getting through is enough
• No. 26 Lü Mengzheng Becomes Top Scholar
  When the chance comes and you're sure, reach for it, and if you miss, reach again
• No. 27 Wu Ji Meets Jiang Taigong and Changes His Fate
  Relax and don't force things; an easy heart notices the help passing by
• No. 28 Xiang Yu's Last Stand by the Wu River
  Don't compare yourself with who you were at your best; walk today's road today's way
• No. 29 Confucius Slips Through Song and Chen
  When luck is stuck, keep a low profile, ease your heart, and stand firm
• No. 30 Li Tong Gives Up His Gold Token to Save Lady Yue
  Make the most of good times, and stop while you're ahead when things turn
• No. 31 Peng Zu Outlives His Large Family
  Good times are here, so use them well; what you planted will bear fruit
• No. 32 Wang Jian and the Five Thunders Formation
  When things are good, protect the gold you have and don't get greedy
• No. 33 Hai Rui's Mission to Annam
  The time isn't right yet, and not seeing clearly doesn't mean you're lost
• No. 34 Zhu Shouchang Searches for His Mother
  The hardest part is behind you, so take the last bends slowly
• No. 35 Yi Tiejin Meets a Ghost on the Road
  If someone plays dirty, don't play back; save your strength for yourself
• No. 36 Wen Yanbo's Birthday Wishes on Longevity Hill
  Hard times are real, but you don't have to keep sighing
• No. 37 Cai Junmo Writes a Poem for Chen San
  When luck is with you and you've made up your mind, go ahead; even detours will prove…
• No. 38 Su Qin Becomes Chancellor
  A rough start doesn't mean a rough road; get through the first part and it gets easier…
• No. 39 Wu Niang Asks About Love
  Don't try to leap to the top; step back and you'll see more clearly
• No. 40 Guo Ziyi and His Wife Receive Birthday Wishes
  Arguments happen, and you still share your life afterward
• No. 41 Chen San, Wu Niang and the Lychee
  When it won't budge, pause and try another door
• No. 42 Wen Zhong's Western Campaign and the Ten Traps
  When the road is hard, you don't have to force it; stopping or taking a detour is fine
• No. 43 Liu Zhiyuan Joins the Army at Binzhou
  It's okay to feel rushed, but slow your steps and catch your breath
• No. 44 Xiao He Chases Han Xin by Moonlight
  If you have doubts, ask instead of guessing
• No. 45 The Fairy Brings Dong Yong Their Child
  Good and bad often come together
• No. 46 Di Renjie Restores the Tang
  Enjoy the brightest moments, and save a little strength for when the moon wanes
• No. 47 Song Wenju Tops the Exam, and Yuzhen Sets Out
  When trouble comes, look at what you have; what you need is often already with you
• No. 48 Wang Zhaojun Leaves for the Northern Steppe
  Before you move ahead, check whether someone is stirring things up behind you
• No. 49 Liu Bei Visits the Thatched Cottage Three Times
  Listen to advice, but make your own call
• No. 50 Pan An Meets Chen Gu, and a Match Is Made
  Settle your heart, then find someone reliable to help
• No. 51 The Monk Xuanzang Travels West for the Scriptures
  However hard the road, steady your heart first
• No. 52 Scholar Zhang at the Farewell Pavilion
  While you wait for results, let your heart come down a little
• No. 53 Liu Yuanpu Is Blessed with Twin Sons
  Good luck is saved up little by little, so don't keep asking about the future
• No. 54 Wang Yueying Misses Her Date at Xiangguo Temple
  Stay clear-headed even when you're happy
• No. 55 Zhu Maichen Carries Firewood
  If the time hasn't come, set it aside and don't force it
• No. 56 Wu Zetian Takes the Throne
  When things are hard, rest both body and heart
• No. 57 Li Sanniang Meets Her Son at the Well
  Settle your heart and keep walking steadily
• No. 58 Liu Bang and the White Snake
  Wanting to grow is good
• No. 59 Guan Zhong Meets His Friend Bao Shuya
  You can start the good thing you want to do now
• No. 60 Huang Chao Tests His Sword
  If you can't see clearly, wait for the clouds to move