Since I was young, I always saw my mum using jiaobei – also known as Moon Blocks – during every praying ceremony, such as the Hungry Ghost Festival, Qing Ming Festival, and many other occasions. At the time, I never really understood what jiaobei meant.
My mum would throw the jiaobei to ask for an answer, then tell us whether we could tidy up the offerings or if we had to wait a little longer because the deity or our deceased relatives had not yet come to receive the blessings or finish the offerings.
She always seemed to know how to interpret each result. I often asked her about it, but I could never remember what the outcomes meant. Recently, I decided to dig a little deeper into the history behind jiaobei and even bought one for myself. It was quite cheap!
My mum used to own wooden jiaobei. However, after my dad passed away, she sent all the deity statues to the temple and no longer practised these Chinese rituals. This was partly because we, her children, did not continue the culture, and partly because she is no longer physically able to do so due to old age.
How Jiaobei Is Used
Jiaobei is used to ask questions of a deity or a loved one who has passed away. You hold the two blocks in your hands and ask your question silently—without speaking it out loud. Once you have finished, you throw the jiaobei into the air.
This act represents a universal exchange known as Heaven, Earth, and People (天地人 Tiān Dì Rén).
In general, jiaobei can produce three possible answers: yes, no, or unclear—please rephrase the question. There is also a rare fourth outcome.
Jiaobei Outcomes and Meanings
聖筊 (Shèng Jiǎo): One block lands flat side down and the other curved side down (一正一反 Yī Zhèng Yī Fǎn). Meaning: Yes — your question is approved or acceptable.
蓋筊 (Gài Jiǎo): Both blocks land with the flat sides facing down and the curved sides facing up. This is sometimes also called 怒筊 (Nù Jiǎo), 哭筊 (Kū Jiǎo), or 沒筊 (Méi Jiǎo). Meaning: No, or no response.
笑筊 (Xiào Jiǎo): Both blocks land with the curved sides facing down and the flat sides facing up. Meaning: Your question is unclear — reword it and ask again.
立筊 (Lì Jiǎo): One or both blocks stand upright on the floor. This is very rare. In Taiwan, temple assistants may surround the standing jiaobei with joss paper. This result signifies the deity’s divine power or a special affinity between the believer and the deity. It often indicates that a miracle, special instruction, or good fortune is forthcoming. For a deeper look at the rare outcome 立筊 , check out the story published on 16 June 2023 on the 新聞挖挖哇 YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/YX5dkHMtYYo?si=u3vtydWAJ9EnA_Gz
Using Coins Instead of Jiaobei
These days, my mum uses two coins of the same value instead of actual jiaobei. I really have to take my hat off to her – she is still able to interpret the answers accurately using coins!
I remember about two years ago, during the Hungry Ghost Festival, after placing offerings for my dad, my mum asked me to toss the coins to check if he had finished the food. Honestly, I had no idea how she interpreted the results. I assumed that if both coins faced the same way, it meant “no,” and if they faced differently, it meant “yes.”
Asking the Right Way
If you are visiting a temple to seek answers, remember to word your question clearly. You should also introduce yourself to the deity by stating your name, date of birth, and place of residence.
If you have drawn a Chinese fortune stick, you can ask the deity to confirm whether the fortune number you received is correct. Each number corresponds to a specific fortune in a booklet, offering guidance or insight into the likelihood of the outcome.
When making offerings for loved ones, be sure to give them enough time to “consume” the food before asking for answers.
Have you ever used jiaobei before? What was your experience like?
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