oracle

Back to longshan temple, finding it at the first attempt although by no means the most direct route. outside the fires are still burning, moving towards the full moon, the ghost month reaching its climax...
 
throwing the oracle, the blocks a variant upon the i-ching i suppose but simpler...the blocks are flat on one side and curved on the other, thrown three times but, from my observations it's often far more than that, at a guess i'd say until the answer that you want is found...

i've borrowed an explanation of it from wiki....

There are four possible answers that the moon blocks can produce:
Shèngjiǎo (聖筊, divine answer): One block flat and another block round is a 'yes' answer.
Nùjiǎo (怒筊, angry answer) also kūjiao (哭筊, crying answer): Both blocks round is a 'no' answer. It is said that the gods are displeased by the question, and this is shown in the way the blocks directly fall flat on the floor.
Xiàojiǎo (笑筊, laughing answer): Both blocks flat have different interpretations; either it can be an emphasized 'no' answer and a sign that the gods are laughing at the question, or that they are laughing because the querent should know the answer, or that the answer to the question is obvious. One characteristic of this answer is when the blocks sway back and forth when dropped, a symbolic show of laughter.
Lìjiǎo (立筊, standing answer): One or both blocks fall but stand erect on the floor indicate that the deities do not understand the referent's question, therefore the question is nullified and the procedure must be repeated.

When used alone without the fortune sticks, the blocks are thrown three times in order to maintain accuracy of the deity's answer, a successful answer usually being three consecutive throws showing shèngjiǎo, or best two out of three throws.