Divine Lots of Mystic Response 玄真灵应宝签

Author unknown.

It was roughly compiled in the Yuan Dynasty or the early Ming Dynasty.

The preface at the beginning of the book states that it was compiled by seven adopted sons commissioned by the "Spirit-Responsive Emperor, the Ruler of Enlightenment of the Nine Heavens". The original text consists of three volumes and is included in the Zhengyi Section of The Daozang.

Divine Lots of Mystic Response

This is a book for Taoist priests to interpret the implications of lots for people. The entire book is arranged in the order of the twelve earthly branches—Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu and Hai. There are thirty lot verses for each earthly branch, with an additional five lot verses corresponding to the Five Elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth) attached at the end, making a total of 365 lots, symbolizing the 365 degrees of the celestial sphere. Each lot includes a five-character lot poem and a parallel prose passage, based on which those who draw the lot can interpret the good or bad fortune implied by the lot.