Wong Tai Sin Oracle No. 39
Bo Yi and Shu Qi Ashamed to Eat the Grain of Zhou
In ancient times, Bo Yi and Shu Qi, two brothers, yielded the throne to each other and went into seclusion on Mount Shouyang, gathering ferns and wild vegetables to eat.
Draw My Wong Tai Sin OracleWong Tai Sin Oracle No. 39
Bo Yi and Shu Qi Ashamed to Eat the Grain of Zhou
Above AverageBo Yi and Shu Qi could not bear to eat the grain of Zhou,
the brothers willingly foraged for ferns to eat.
Their act of yielding the state should leave their names for eternity,
pitifully they starved and fell on Mount Shouyang.
Original text
Original Chinese verse
夷齐不忍食周粟
兄弟心甘采蕨餐
让国名应垂万古
可怜饿倒首阳山
ALLUSION
Allusion
In ancient times, Bo Yi and Shu Qi, two brothers, yielded the throne to each other. Ashamed to eat the grain of Zhou, they gathered ferns and wild vegetables to eat. Later, they eventually starved to death on Mount Shouyang. But their fame for yielding the throne has been passed down for ten thousand generations.
Those who draw this lot should first establish a mind of goodness, endure suffering patiently, for there will be difficulty first, then ease. This lot contains auspiciousness within misfortune. One should be cautious.
This lot is also known as: Bo Yi and Shu Qi Yield the Throne. During the Shang Dynasty, Lord Guzhu appointed his youngest son, Shu Qi, as ruler. Shu Qi wanted to yield the position to his elder brother Bo Yi, but Bo Yi refused. As a result, both abandoned their positions and fled to the state of Zhou. When King Wu of Zhou attacked King Zhou of Shang, Bo Yi and Shu Qi remonstrated but failed. After King Wu destroyed Shang, the two were ashamed to eat the grain of Zhou and fled to Mount Shouyang, gathering wild plants to eat, and starved to death on the mountain. Although Bo Yi and Shu Qi are revered by the world as people of integrity and moral courage, drawing this lot suggests possible misfortune within auspiciousness, with the potential for loss of power.
INTERPRETATION
Reading the sign
Original text
Marriage is inadvisable; wealth is hard to obtain
Regarding pregnancy, there is no joyful countenance
Livestock and silkworms require diligent effort
Regarding the traveler, there are obstacles
The household is ordinary; illness is extremely dangerous
Regarding plans and hopes, few are suitable
Regarding feng shui, luck is stagnant and cannot flourish
Regarding lost items, it is difficult to recover the original object
Regarding oneself, loss of fortune may bring hardship
Regarding weather, sometimes it is truly hard to know
Regarding travel, going may be unfavorable
Plain-language signals
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does Wong Tai Sin Sign 39, “Bo Yi and Shu Qi Ashamed to Eat the Grain of Zhou,” mean?＋
Start with the interpretation: In ancient times, Bo Yi and Shu Qi, two brothers, yielded the throne to each other and went into seclusion on Mount Shouyang, gathering ferns and wild vegetables to eat. The allusion matters too, because this sign should be understood through the people, circumstances, and timing behind the poem, not only as a lucky or unlucky label. The story context also points to this: In ancient times, Bo Yi and Shu Qi, two brothers, yielded the throne to each other. Ashamed to eat the grain of Zhou, they gathered ferns and wild vegetables to eat.
Is Wong Tai Sin Sign 39 a lucky sign?＋
Its formal level is “Above Average.” That gives you a starting point, but the practical reading is still about In ancient times, Bo Yi and Shu Qi, two brothers, yielded the throne to each other and went into seclusion on Mount Shouyang, gathering ferns and wild vegetables to eat. In other words, this sign is more useful as a grounded reading of your current question than as a vague lucky-or-unlucky label.
What does Wong Tai Sin Sign 39 suggest for planning and career?＋
In the plain-language signals for this sign, planning is “Not everything can go as desired” and career is “Nothing goes as one wishes in career.” If your question is about a project, a role change, work momentum, or professional direction, these two lines are more useful than only asking whether the sign is good or bad.
What does Wong Tai Sin Sign 39 say about wealth, business, and timing?＋
For money and execution, the sign reads wealth as “No financial luck, do not entertain delusions” and business or dealings as “read it inside your deal or timing question.” If you are asking about revenue, cooperation, negotiation, signing, or whether the timing is right, these signals are the clearest plain-language reading on the page.
What does Wong Tai Sin Sign 39 suggest for relationships and marriage?＋
For relationship questions, the sign gives marriage as “Not suitable for marriage, problems may arise” and household or relationship atmosphere as “Household is safe and peaceful.” If you are weighing a bond, a commitment, or the direction of a relationship, these two signals are the best place to start your reading.
What should I do after reading Wong Tai Sin Sign 39?＋
Read the poem, the allusion, and the plain-language fortune signals as one whole answer to the same question. First decide what you are really asking, then use this sign to judge where to move, where to wait, and where to leave room. If you want to keep going, continue the same question inside Cantian AI for a fuller reading flow.