The Sleepy Immortal

Chinese fortune poems, one page each

The 100 Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poems

Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poem No. 68: King Qian Sells Salt; Lü Buwei and the Rare Goods

Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poem No. 68 is rated Fair Fortune, and its story is “King Qian Sells Salt; Lü Buwei and the Rare Goods”. In plain words: You've earned well these past years, so quit while you're ahead, buy land, and settle down. A greedy heart is never satisfied.

庚辛Fair Fortune
Pearls sold in the south, salt sold in the north;over the years, your goods and gold have multiplied.Stop here, and look for fields and a home;if the heart keeps wanting, when is it enough?

Original Chinese

南販珍珠北販鹽年來幾倍貨財添勸君止此求田舍心欲多時何日厭

The story behind it

King Qian Sells Salt; Lü Buwei and the Rare Goods

Video

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Questions people ask

Is Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poem No. 68 a good fortune?

It is rated Fair Fortune. You've earned well these past years, so quit while you're ahead, buy land, and settle down. A greedy heart is never satisfied. A fortune poem is a reminder, not an order. The choice is yours.

What does Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poem No. 68 say in English?

Pearls sold in the south, salt sold in the north; / over the years, your goods and gold have multiplied. / Stop here, and look for fields and a home; / if the heart keeps wanting, when is it enough?

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