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Draw a fortune

Kyou (Misfortune)

Kyou (凶, misfortune) is the label in omikuji that indicates bad fortune. Many people let out an involuntary “oh no” the moment they see it, but if you read the modern official explanations from shrines and temples, the reality is far gentler than the label suggests.

Kyou does not mean “a doomed day”

A misconception many people fall into after drawing kyou is that “nothing will go right today.” This is almost entirely wrong.

The body text of a traditional omikuji with kyou typically consists of advice like:

  • “Do not rush”
  • “Listen carefully to others”
  • “Now is the time to play defense”

In other words, kyou is best understood as a bundle of advice saying “proceed slowly and carefully, and you will be perfectly fine.” That reading is the healthiest way to receive it.

How likely is it to draw kyou?

The probability varies from one shrine or temple to another: some keep kyou to a minimum, while others hold on to the older form.

  • Sensoji Temple (Asakusa, Tokyo): Has a reputation for containing a lot of kyou; the temple’s own official FAQ explains that this is simply the omikuji of old, kept as it was
  • Typical shrines: Often less than 10 percent, and some have eliminated kyou entirely

In other words, if you draw kyou at a shrine or temple that keeps kyou scarce, it is a somewhat rare experience, and honestly makes for a good story.

What to do after drawing kyou

There is nothing you absolutely must do after drawing kyou. That said, here are some suggestions worth trying:

  • Read only the body text of the slip carefully (not the fortune label, but the actual advice)
  • Pick out just one piece of advice you might have been overlooking
  • Keep that advice in mind for about three days

The last thing people tend to agonize over is whether to tie the paper at the shrine or take it home. The short answer: either choice is fine.

You drew kyouThere is nothing you absolutely have to do
Read only the body text, slowlyNot the fortune label, but the advice actually written on the slip
Pick out one line you had overlookedKeep that single line in mind for about three days
Option 1Tie it and leave it behindSymbolically tie a bond with the deity and leave the slip at the sacred grounds
Option 2Take it homeReread the text in daily life and keep it as a kind of charm
Both are correct. No need to draw again"Tie bad results, take home good ones" is a folk belief that developed later

What to do after drawing kyou. The choice between tying and taking home is covered in Should You Tie or Take Home Your Omikuji?

Kyou is not a fortune-telling device that predicts your fate. It is a prompt to pause and reconsider how you are living your daily life. For more on this perspective, see the column Why you don’t need to feel down about drawing kyou.

Kyou on Yuru Omikuji

On this site, Yuru Omikuji offers a variety of kyou-flavored labels: kage-kyou, hanpa-kyou, ka-kyou, nazo-kyou, gyaku-kyou, and bi-kyou, among others. Each one delivers a “be careful” message with far fewer calories than a real shrine’s kyou.

The phrases written on your slip are explained in the Omikuji Reader.

Related terms