fortune stick

plural fortune sticks

1. One of a set of numbered bamboo slips that correspond to messages concerning the future, drawn by a supplicant in Taoist divination.

   6 Fortune sticks used in Chinese temples. Yunan.

   1871 September 11, Indian Museum: Minutes of the Trustees, page 143

   3 more examples

   Ho chun thought that while they were there, they had better try throwing the fortune sticks, as he knew it would please them, so he picked up a tall round box, full of bamboo sticks, and explained it to them.

   1904, Jessie Juliet, Little Almond Blossoms: A Book of Chinese Stories for Children, page 142

   Mei Li ran happily down the hill. Surely, if the fortune sticks said she was going to rule a kingdom she would.

   1938, Thomas Handforth, Mei Li

   Ah Ching went to the temple on her behalf on every major festival to kou chim, that is to ask one's fortune through the use of fortune sticks.

   2000, Mimi Chan, All the King’s Women: The Story of a Hong Kong Family, page 32