Step into a Taiwanese temple and you will often see worshippers pressing their palms together in prayer before gently casting two crescent-shaped wooden or resin objects onto the floor. The way each piece lands — face up or face down — determines the deity's response. This practice is called jiaobei divination (掷筊, zhì jiǎo), and it remains one of the most common forms of communication between people and their deities in Taiwanese folk religion.
1. Origins and Cultural Background
Jiaobei divination is also known as "cup casting" (博杯, bó bēi) or "moon block divination." The jiaobei pieces — called boe in Taiwanese Hokkien — are crescent-shaped and come in pairs. Each piece has a flat side (the "yin" face, or human face) and a convex side (the "yang" face, or heavenly face).
The practice originates from the Minnan (Southern Fujian) region of mainland China and was brought to Taiwan by early settlers, eventually becoming deeply embedded in temple culture. Today, whether at a grand city temple or a small neighborhood shrine, jiaobei is the primary medium through which worshippers "speak" to deities.
The pieces are traditionally made of wood or bamboo, though modern versions are often plastic or resin. Each of the two pieces falls independently, and their combined landing position determines the divine response.
2. The Three Possible Outcomes
There are only three outcomes in jiaobei divination. The combinations are simple, but interpreting them requires context:
| Result | Combination | General Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Sheng Jiao (聖筊) | One yin + one yang (one flat, one convex) | The deity agrees, approves, or permits. The most common "yes" signal. |
| Xiao Jiao (笑筊) | Two yang (both convex) | The question is not clear enough; the deity responds with a "smile." Please rephrase and try again. |
| Yin Jiao (陰筊) | Two yin (both flat) | The deity declines, the timing is wrong, or the question is poorly formed. |
It is important to note that xiao jiao ("smiling blocks") does not carry a mocking connotation. Folk tradition interprets it as the deity gently smiling to suggest the worshipper's question needs more thought. Yin jiao ("dark blocks") is not ominous — it is simply a clear "no," signaling that the timing may be off or the request needs reconsideration.
3. Step-by-Step Guide to Performing Jiaobei
Customs vary slightly between temples, but the following process is widely observed:
- Clarify your question: Silently formulate a complete question in your mind, including the time frame, location, people involved, and what you are requesting. The more specific your question, the easier the result is to interpret. Avoid asking about two separate matters at once.
- Introduce yourself: State your name, date of birth (traditionally in the lunar calendar), and address to the deity so they "know who is asking."
- Address a specific deity: Clearly specify which deity you are consulting. Avoid vague phrasing like "whichever deity is available."
- Cast the blocks: Hold both pieces together with both hands, raise them to roughly 30–50 cm above the floor (or above the designated casting platform), and let them fall gently.
- Read the result: Examine which faces are up to determine sheng jiao, xiao jiao, or yin jiao.
- Confirm sheng jiao (three-cast rule): Many temples observe a custom of casting two more times after receiving sheng jiao to confirm the response. Three consecutive sheng jiao casts are considered a firm affirmation from the deity.
"State your question clearly — the deity needs to know what you are asking."
— Common advice heard at Taiwanese temples
4. Common Questions and Misconceptions
4.1 Can I keep casting until I get sheng jiao?
Technically, yes — but folk tradition generally considers this inappropriate. If you receive repeated yin jiao or xiao jiao, the recommended approach is to step back, reconsider whether your question is clear enough, or whether this is the right moment to consult the deity. Re-casting the same question repeatedly tends to make results harder to interpret, not easier.
4.2 How is online divination different from casting at a temple?
Casting jiaobei at a temple is a ritual act performed in the presence of a deity, embedded in a specific religious and cultural context. Online jiaobei tools (such as the one on this site) use a random algorithm to simulate the outcome, offering a cultural experience and interactive entertainment — they are not a substitute for formal religious ritual and carry no religious authority.
4.3 What kinds of questions can I ask?
Questions should ideally have a "yes or no" structure with a clear time frame and scope. Common topics include:
- Whether a trip or schedule is favorable
- Timing for a job change or career move
- Marriage and relationship decisions
- Health and medical directions
- Business or investment choices (often paired with a temple advisor's guidance)
Vague, open-ended questions like "What will happen to my life?" are difficult to interpret through jiaobei. It helps to break them into specific sub-questions.
4.4 Why might two people asking the same question get different results?
The outcome depends on the individual, the moment, and exactly how the question is framed. The same words carry different meaning for different people in different circumstances. Temple faith inherently emphasizes a personal relationship between the worshipper and the deity, so results cannot be directly compared or applied to another person's situation.
5. Symbolism and Folk Significance
The crescent shape of the jiaobei is not arbitrary. In East Asian culture, the moon has long been associated with yin and yang, fortune cycles, and fate. One flat face (yin) and one convex face (yang) together symbolize the balance of opposing forces — and only the combination of one yin and one yang (sheng jiao) represents a state of harmony between heaven, earth, and the person asking.
Taiwan also has a tradition of the "furnace master" (爐主, lú zhǔ), where temples use multiple rounds of jiaobei casting to elect an annual community leader responsible for major ritual duties. This demonstrates that jiaobei is not only a personal practice but also a mechanism for community governance and social cohesion.
In recent years, some researchers have studied jiaobei from a psychological perspective, arguing that the ritual process of casting helps people temporarily set aside anxiety and focus their attention on the question at hand — leading to clearer thinking and more deliberate decision-making.
6. Summary
Jiaobei divination is a practice where religion, cultural tradition, and psychological need converge. Understanding the three outcomes — sheng jiao, xiao jiao, and yin jiao — and following the basic principles of good question-asking will make your experience at a Taiwanese temple more meaningful. If you'd like to try jiaobei online first, use the tool below to select a deity, state your question, and get a feel for the rhythm of this tradition.