Chien Tung or Oracle of Kwan Yin (in Buddist tradition) comes from China and is based on the Book of Changes (I Ching, Yijing). Its a fortune telling tool. When Japan adaped some culture/religion it got there in the 16th century.

A prediction is made by shaking a stick (flat, with a number on it) out of a box (sliced hole) and then finding the matching fortune. One of these sticks is called the "emperor stick".

It's possibly related to the pick-up sticks game played today. (ev. the Mikado variation)