The Magistrate and the Crocodiles
The Magistrate was just, faithful and able.
He made the county rich, happy and stable.
His prayer moved even the god of the North Sea, Who forbade all crocodiles to hurt his people.
Asking about: Home
The Story Behind This Stick
This sign tells the story of Han Yu, a Tang Dynasty official known as 韓文公 (Master Han), one of China's greatest literary figures and government reformers. In 819 CE, Han Yu was exiled to Chaozhou in southern China for criticizing the emperor's Buddhist policies. When he arrived, the local rivers were infested with dangerous crocodiles that terrorized villagers and killed livestock.
Instead of organizing hunting parties, Han Yu did something remarkable — he wrote an eloquent letter to the crocodiles themselves, posted by the riverbank. In this 'Proclamation to the Crocodiles,' he gave them seven days to leave peacefully, promising safe passage to the sea. According to legend, the crocodiles actually departed.
Whether through divine intervention, seasonal migration, or sheer coincidence, Han Yu's moral authority and literary brilliance became the stuff of legend. His compassionate leadership transformed Chaozhou into a prosperous region.
The Reading
Han Yu didn't wade into the river with spears. He sat down, wrote a letter to the crocodiles, and posted it on the bank. The verse holds that image up to you now, in the middle of whatever household tension you came to the temple carrying. The stick reflects a situation where the loud, forceful response, the family meeting where everyone shouts, the ultimatum, the dramatic exit, is exactly the wrong instrument. What the verse points to is quieter and slower: the moral weight you already carry inside the household, used with care.
Notice that 中吉 is moderate, not full. The crocodiles in Han Yu's story left because the magistrate was already known to be just and steady before he ever picked up the brush. That detail matters. If there is a relative whose behaviour feels predatory, a parent who corners you, an in-law who keeps testing the edges, a sibling who makes every dinner unsafe, the verse suggests your authority to address it comes from the consistency you have already shown, not from a single confrontation. Your task is to write the proclamation, calmly, in your own voice, and trust that the household can hear it.
What To Do Next
Before the next family gathering, write down what you actually want to say, in full sentences, even if you never read it aloud; the act of drafting clarifies what is grievance and what is genuine request. Speak to the difficult relative directly rather than through a messenger cousin or your mother. Set one specific boundary in plain language, not a list of seven.
Give the other person time to respond before escalating. The stick rewards composure here far more than force.
Recommended Articles
Further Reading
FAQ
- Is Stick #69 (Moderately Good) good or bad?
- "Moderately Good" is a middle-tier fortune. It suggests your situation has room for growth but requires attention and direction. The real value is in the specific guidance — fortune sticks are tools for self-reflection, not prediction.
- How accurate is Wong Tai Sin Stick #69 for home?
- Fortune sticks work as a mirror for self-reflection rather than prediction. If the interpretation resonates with you, that's the stick doing its job — revealing what you already sense but haven't articulated.
- Can I draw fortune sticks for the same question again?
- Traditionally, you should ask about the same matter only once. Drawing repeatedly often means you're seeking the answer you want rather than the guidance you need. To explore different angles, try a different life topic for the same stick number.