What are Jiaobei (Chinese moon blocks)?
Jiaobei, often called moon blocks or divination blocks in English, are a pair of curved objects used in Chinese folk religious traditions. A participant poses a question that can be answered with yes or no, then interprets the arrangement of their flat and curved sides after a cast.
What do moon blocks look like?
Each of the two crescent-shaped blocks typically has a flatter face and a rounded face. They are often made of wood or bamboo. You may also encounter the names jiao, bei, or regional pronunciations across Chinese-speaking communities.
The setting might be a temple visit, a prayer, or a fortune-stick ritual; local custom determines the exact procedure.
Why do people cast them?
Within traditional practice, casting can be a way to seek guidance or confirm a step in a ritual. The process encourages the questioner to frame a specific matter clearly.
Xingtian Temple describes asking one yes-or-no question at a time, which is a useful example rather than a rule for every temple.
Is an app the same as casting at a temple?
No. Jiaobei on a phone is a digital cultural experience that produces random results. It does not communicate with a temple or represent a deity’s response.
For the practices of a particular temple, rely on that temple’s own instructions.
Further reading
References describe real-world customs and do not endorse or validate an app-generated result.
Editorial date：2026-10-23