Peachwood Moon Blocks

Two crescents of peachwood, flat on one face, rounded on the other.

Moon blocks, jiaobei, are the oldest yes and no in the Chinese temple. You hold the pair, put the question out loud, and let them fall. One flat face up and one down is a yes. Both flat faces up means the question was not clear, or the answer is a laugh; both rounded faces up is a no. Peachwood is the wood the tradition trusts for this, the same wood cut for door charms at New Year, and each block is carved on its rounded face, one with a dragon and one with a phoenix.

Kept beside a home altar, or brought out when a decision has been going round in circles for too long.