Moon blocks (擲杯筊) are a pair of crescent divination blocks from Chinese folk religion. Hold a yes-or-no question in your heart, ask a deity, toss the blocks, and read the reply. A playful pixel take — part of Playlab.擲杯筊是華人民間信仰中的問卜工具 —— 一對新月形的聖杯。在心中向神明問一個「是或否」的問題,擲出杯筊,聆聽神明的回覆。這是 Playlab 的像素風小品。
MOON BLOCKS擲杯筊
The Culture of Moon Blocks杯筊文化
What are they?杯筊是什麼?
Moon blocks (筊杯 / 杯筊, also "jiaobei" or "poe") are a pair of crescent-shaped divination blocks used in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. Each block has one flat side (陽, yang) and one rounded side (陰, yin). Worshippers drop the pair before a deity to ask a yes-or-no question — a practice found in temples across China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia for centuries. 杯筊(又稱筊杯、聖筊、擲筊)是華人民間信仰與道教中常見的問卜工具,一對呈新月形。每一塊有一平面(陽)與一圓弧面(陰)。信眾在神明前擲出這一對杯筊,向神明請示「是或否」。這一習俗流傳於中國、臺灣及東南亞的廟宇已有數百年。
Step 1 · Identify yourself第一步 · 表明身份
Before casting, you must first report your name, birth date, address, and the specific matter you wish to ask about today — so the deity knows exactly who is asking, and about what. 擲筊之前,必須先報上自己的姓名、生日、住址,以及今日所求問的詳細事情,讓神明清楚是誰在問、所問何事。
Step 2 · Ask & cast第二步 · 問卜擲筊
Hold one clear yes-or-no question in your heart, then let the two blocks fall. Trivial or testing questions are discouraged. 於心中想好一個明確的「是或否」問題,再擲下杯筊。切忌以瑣事或試探之心請示。
The three answers三種筊象
聖筊 Sheng Jiao — one flat, one round: the deity APPROVES — yes, permitted, agreed.
笑筊 Xiao Jiao — both flat (flat faces up): your request is UNCLEAR — reconsider it, adjust the question, and cast again.
陰筊 Yin Jiao (怒杯) — both round: NO — not agreed, not advisable; or the timing is wrong and the matter should not be pressed further.
聖筊(聖杯) —— 一正一反:表示神明應允、可行、同意。
笑筊(笑杯) —— 兩面皆平(兩平面朝上):代表請示不清,需重新思考、調整後再問。
陰筊(怒杯/無杯) —— 兩面皆凸:代表不同意、不可行,或當前時機不對、問題不宜再追問。
Why "three casts"?為何要「三杯」?
For weighty matters, one cast is not enough. Custom holds that you should ask three times, and only three consecutive 聖筊 count as the deity's firm, unambiguous consent. That is the origin of the "three casts" mode in this game. 遇重大之事,一擲不足為憑。習俗認為須連續請示三次,唯有連得三個聖筊,方視為神明堅定而明確的允諾。這正是本遊戲「三杯」模式的由來。
This game replaces the Earth God with a calico Cat Goddess — a playful touch, not tradition. 本作以三花貓仙代替土地公,僅為遊戲趣味,非傳統信仰。