The Sleepy Immortal

Chinese fortune poems, one page each

The 100 Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poems

Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poem No. 20: Yan Ziling Climbs the Fishing Terrace

Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poem No. 20 is rated Great Misfortune, and its story is “Yan Ziling Climbs the Fishing Terrace”. In plain words: When you don't know who to tell your worries to, let them float away on the water. Hold fame and money a little more lightly, and your heart gets lighter too.

乙癸Great Misfortune
To whom can you tell a lifetime's worries?I'll tell you at the Eighteen Rapids.All the world's affairs drift off with the water;fame and riches are only passing clouds.

Original Chinese

一生心事向誰論十八灘頭說與君世事盡從流水去功名富貴等浮雲

The story behind it

Yan Ziling Climbs the Fishing Terrace

Video

A video for this poem is on the way. Meanwhile, visit The Sleepy Immortal on YouTube.

Subscribe on YouTube

Questions people ask

Is Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poem No. 20 a good fortune?

It is rated Great Misfortune. When you don't know who to tell your worries to, let them float away on the water. Hold fame and money a little more lightly, and your heart gets lighter too. A fortune poem is a reminder, not an order. The choice is yours.

What does Thunder-and-Rain Fortune Poem No. 20 say in English?

To whom can you tell a lifetime's worries? / I'll tell you at the Eighteen Rapids. / All the world's affairs drift off with the water; / fame and riches are only passing clouds.

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