Divination blocks

Casting divination blocks：

Casting Divination Blocks is a form of divinatory ritual employed in Daoism and the Popular Religion, and is found throughout traditional ethnic Chinese societies. As tools of prognostication, Divination Blocks are used by ordinary people to obtain directives from the deities. Most are made of bamboo or wood, with two blocks forming a pair. The blocks are shaped like a three-dimensional crescent moon, with one rounded side called the “Yin face” (also called the “reverse face”), and a flat side called the “Yang face” (or “obverse face”). Their ritual use involves first circling a pair of blocks three times over the incense burner, and then clasping them together like a half-moon in one’s hands, and tossing them. The intent of the deities and spirits can then be read from the combinations of upward-facing flat and rounded sides that result: one flat and one rounded means “yes,” both with rounded sides up means “no,” while both with flat-sides up is called “Laughing blocks,” and means the spirits are amused, in which case one should concentrate and cast the blocks again.